Two high-speed desktop computers for my cybercafé

Wilberforce

Nairobi, Kenya

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Wilberforce

Member since

March 2020

On-time repayments

136 installments  •  30%

About Me

My name is Wilberforce Okelo, and I was brought up in a very poor background, raised by my grandparents, and that made me whom I am today.

As for my biological parents, they could not live together due to constant wrangles, hence their separation when I was only five.

In 2006, when I was fourteen, my mother unfortunately passed away from meningitis. That was during the time when she had reconciled with my father after nine years of separation.

Due to my hard-working nature and perseverence in school, I managed to sit for my Kenyan Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams, in 2006, scoring 304/500. Through hardship, I also managed to sit for my Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, in 2010, and earned a C+.

Raising the school fees was an uphill battle for my father. He was jobless and sometimes opted to do manual labor, in which he earned very little. Therefore, he used to live from hand to mouth, due to hard economic times during those days.

This motivated me to work even harder in school, and I really challenged myself, so that one day I would open my own business and start supporting my father and some of the community at large.

My desire for education did not end after high school, though, so I got trained in computer applications (certificate level).

Then, I began working as a casual labourer in a private firm, and I started collecting the capital needed for my dream business. However, it was never enough, hence my looking for more funding.

I am blessed to have two adopted orphans. Currently, in 2020, they are ages 10 and 14.
I adopted them in 2019. They both rely on me for all of their basic needs.

My unique hobby is that I build electronics (for example, robots).

My Business

My business is a sole proprietorship. I provide cybercafé services, electronics, and related online content as per the clients' needs/demands.

I have been doing this business since 2018.

Currently, in 2020, my typical cost is about Ksh. 78,000, and I expect my profit to be about Ksh. 50,000. I will use my profit to support the two orphans I adopted, and to help fund business projects for the less-fortunate in society.

To start an Internet café, all I needed were the following items:
• Client computers
• Internet connection (ADSL, Cable, etc.)
• Networking hardware
• Server computer that controls the client computers

My father once told me that the secret to succeeding in this business lies in diversification. Gone are the days when customers seeking Internet services were the backbone of cybercafé firms. Therefore, I am intending to add a wide array of services to my cybercafé, in order to attract many more customers, walk-ins and others.

Some examples of add-on services include:
• Computer Training (particularly in rural areas)
• Graphic Design and Printing of Promotional Materials
• Image Printing (from clients' mobile phones and memory cards)
• Instant Passport Photo-taking and Printing
• I.T. Services
• Mobile-Money Agencies
- (for Airtel Money, Cooperative Bank, Equity Bank, KCB Bank, M-Pesa, etc.)
• Photocopying
• Snacks and Soft Drinks
• Typing and Proofreading
• Video Games

A well-run cybercafé, with at least four computers, and with added services (such as those listed above), can rake in up to Ksh. 750,000 per year. So, I am really yearning for funding.

Loan Proposal

I would use the loan to purchase two high-speed computers for my cybercafé, and I also would invest in CCTV surveillance of my clients. This even could boost my clients' morale (knowing that crime is being prevented) and they probably would be more likely to come in again and again. I expect my profit margin to increase by at least 10%.

Income Source

Risk & Revenue Information: Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, during which physical-distancing rules are in place, a cybercafé business is a God-sent blessing. Many individuals and companies have opted to use online means as a way of making things happen. Be it browsing for fun, or video conferencing, or designing a website and running an online business, all of these things can be done at a cybercafé (with desks spaced apart). Therefore, repaying the loan on time would be no big deal.

✎ ✎ ✎

EDITOR'S NOTES:

1.) For anyone who may not yet know this, please be aware that although English is an official language in many African countries, English usually *isn't* the first language of
most people in Africa; rather, a tribal language (or two or three or more) usually is/are
the first language(s).

2.) The "Risk & Revenue Information" is submitted separately and, therefore,
doesn't appear in the "Show original English" section, below:

Show original English  

About Me

They call me Wilberforce Okelo. Am 28years old and partially orphan. I was brought up in a very poor background. And I was raised up by my grandparents and that made me whom I am today. As to my biological parents, they could not live together due to constant wrangles hence their separation while I was some five years old. Unfortunately, my mum died of meningitis in the year 2006 while I was 14years and it was the time she had reconciled with my dad after 9years of separation. My perseverance and hard-working nature in school, had me sit my KCPE in 2006 and scored 304/500 and KCSE in the year 2010 through hardship as raising the school fee was an uphill for my dad, he was jobless and sometimes opted to do manual which he earned peanuts. That's to say, my dad used to live from hand to mouth due to hard economic times during those days. This motivated me to work even harder in school, and I really challenged myself that one day I will open my own business and start supporting my parent and the community at large. Anyway, I managed to score a C+ in my KCSE, and due to financial constraints, I could not make it to college. So my desire for education, actually could not end there, I was trained in computer applications, Certificate level. From there, it's when I started working as a casual labourer in a Private firm, as I collected the capital for my dream business but it was never enough thus looking for more funding. And am blessed to have two adopted orphans, aged 10 and 14, and they all rely on me for basic needs. My unique hobby was building electronics like robots.

My Business

My business is a sole proprietorship and I deal with Cyber, electronics and online related contents as per the client's demands. I have been doing this business for the last 2years. My typical cost is Ksh. 78,000. And I expect my profits to run into something to do with Ksh. 50,000. I gonna use my profits to support the two orphans I adopted some eight-month ago and to fund the business projects for the less fortunate in society.

And to start this Internet Cafe business, all I needed was:
• Internet connection (ADSL, Cable etc.),
• Client computers,
• Server computer that controls the clients
• Networking hardware

And my dad once told me the secret to succeeding in this business lies in diversification. Gone are the days when customers seeking internet services were the backbone of cybercafe firms. I consider adding a wide host of services to my cyber in order to attract many walk-in customers. Some examples of these add-on businesses include:

Mobile money agency outlet (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, Equity, KCB and Cooperative Bank agencies don’t disappoint).
Video games outlet
Typing and proof-reading services
Instant passport photo taking and printing services
Printing images from clients mobile phones and memory cards
Photocopy services
Snacks and soft drinks
Graphic design and printing of promotional materials
IT services
Computer training services (particularly in the rural areas)

A well run cyber cafe with at least 4 computers and an added service like M-Pesa, graphic design, web design, eCommerce, photocopy services etc can rake in up to Ksh750,000 per year. So am really yearning for funding.

Loan Proposal

I will use the loan to purchase two high-speed computers for my cyber cafe and also invest in CCTV surveillance of my clients. This will even boost my clients' morale in coming again and again. I expect it to increase my profit margin by 10%.

Feedback

1

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$800.00

Date disbursed

Jun 30, 2020

Repayment status

On Time

Projected term

2 months

Lenders

Hope2012

United Kingdom

B

Bpryse

Long beach, United States

P

ploeger

Perkasie, United States

G

guenter

Bremen, Germany

JimVandegriff

Trinidad, California, United States

TheMoonDuster

Brisbane, Australia

Laurie

Sry, Canada

S

Sherry

Pittsburgh, United States

Ingela

Falun, Sweden

ShaneS

Port Pirie, Australia

M

miriamg

Toronto, Canada

ruediger00

Montreal, Canada

L

Leonora

TÄBY, Sweden

Freewolf

Salt Lake City, United States

D

DandS

United States

lyalljellyman

Wellington, New Zealand

Insomnus

Cheltenham, United Kingdom

johnhudson

Washington, DC, United States

TheGoodData

London, United Kingdom

PolarBearCapital

United States

SE

Sven E

Mannheim, Germany

L

Lev

Israel

MD

Miles Dodge

CORVALLIS, United States

jtreyes

United States

R

Ryan

United States

Sinan Taifour

Munich, Germany, Germany

OL

Owen L.

United States

Vratik Krocik

Prague, Czech Republic

JE

Joseph Edd

United States

D

Dalton

San Francisco, United States

hervey liu

United States

JF

J Fister

United States

R

RMIM

United States

DW

Dan Winetsky

United States

CP

Colin Pardue

United States

JH

Joseph Hwang

Houston, United States

Jane

Ontario, Canada

SS

Sandi Smith

Pimpama. Queensland, Australia

S

Sarah

Arlington, United States

A

Alex

United States

BS

Brooke Schreier Ganz

Mill Valley, California, United States

Nethanel Kohen

NYC, United States

daniel

maryborough, Australia

A

Anonymous

United States

BL

Bill Lowery

United States

MC

Melissa Corrigan

Richmond, California, United States

Carrie

Arlington, MA, United States

JS

jackson silvey

United Kingdom

MP

Michael Poley

United States

Theo

Zürich, Switzerland

Darren Jeppson

Denver, Colorado, United States

H

Haley

United States

RC

Robert Chen

United States

JL

James Little

United Kingdom

Masato

Utah, United States

Raoul

Germany

RW

Ronald Waite

United States

A

Alex

United States

AD

Andrew DiMuro

United States

MC

Martin Carmouze

Sterling, United States

RD

Roel De Meester

Antwerpen, Belgium

Greg DeKoenigsberg

Durham NC, United States

AM

Andy Marston

United Kingdom

Claire Lewis

Wales Uk, United Kingdom

AA

Andrew and Kim

Nashville, TN, United States

PA

Peter A

New York City, United States

Elizabeth

Australia

SB

Stephen B

United States

Pay-It-Forward

Durban, South Africa

Sharon Giardina

Sydney, Australia, Australia

K

Kindra

USA, United States

dave2319

United Kingdom

Richard Paulin

Sydney, Australia

Rob Williams

Halifax, Canada

MH

Matt Hodges

United Kingdom

Marcelo De Polli

São Paulo, Brazil

AM

Angela Mason

United States

CF

Credun Farley

United States

FN

frank nunn

United Kingdom

Alisha Gallini

United States

CJ

Chloe Jensen

United States

Nick Studenski

Minneapolis, United States

Remo

Switzerland

Ryan Agnew

Australia

DO

Denis Ontiveros

Guildford, United Kingdom

B

Ben

United States

Sayuri

United Kingdom

MW

Mark Weir

United Kingdom

DK

Daniel Kalla

Saint Paul, United States

Emily

Henderson, United States

Ask Wilberforce a question about this project, share news and photos of your own, or send a simple note of thanks or inspiration.

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  • Wilberforce    Sep 16, 2023

    Hello my good people,

    Thanks for entrusting me with your hard earned cash...am working around the clock to sort out the loan balance once I stabilize

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Jun 20, 2023

    The economy is biting really hard but I will try my best settling the debt account

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    May 23, 2023

    The inflation in our country is wanting....but I will try my level best to settle what is possible

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Mar 26, 2023

    Hello my Lenders,

    I am so grateful for your kind gesture in funding me. I won't take that for granted. I would always be indebted to you guys.

    Am looking towards settling my pending balances, immediately normalcy resumes in my business.

    Thanks

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Jan 31, 2023

    The current economy situation is wanting. But allow me to settle what is within my budget, thanks

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Jan 20, 2023

    Hello my Great People,

    Thanks for entrusting in me. Am working around the clock to sort my pending debts.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Jan 12, 2023

    The situation gonna improve and things stabilize. Thanks for believing in me.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Dec 15, 2022

    Hello Great people,

    I believe you are well. Just for update, am trying to work around the clock to settle my dues. Thanks.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Nov 25, 2022

    Am still struggling but not yet out. I will soon clear this debt. It's a matter of time. Thanks for your patience

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Oct 23, 2022

    Am delighted to inform you that, I still appreciate for the support you accorded me.
    Am working around the clock to pay it forward.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Oct 11, 2022

    The economy is a bit dodging but am trying all the best possible plan to clear the debts. Thanks for understanding

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Oct 5, 2022

    My plans to resettle my pending and long standing loan for my beloved lenders is still intact.

    Thanks for trusting in me.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Sep 20, 2022

    Today am commiting to pay up something, despite the ups and downs in the game of business.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Sep 13, 2022

    Hello my Good Lenders,

    Trusting you are all well. Am working towards meeting my obligations. Kindly bear with me, and thanks all.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Aug 21, 2022

    Hello Beloved Lenders,

    Am grateful to you guys. Am still honoring my pledges of instalment payments. Thanks

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Aug 7, 2022

    The situation is still not allowing. I believe all will be well. Thanks for entrusting me.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Jul 18, 2022

    The business is not yet on feet. Am trusting the process, and will settle my dues. Regards

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Jul 10, 2022

    Am still working around the clock, to ensure my loans are fully paid.

    Log in to reply • Share
  • Wilberforce    Jun 18, 2022

    The business is no longer functional but am trying my best to make the payment.

    Log in to reply • Share


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