analinjsaturria    Apr 13, 2014

Dear lenders,
This is Analin Saturria McGregor, Country Liaison Manager at Zidisha.
Peter Chege, one of Mary's additional contacts, has let us know he spoke to Mary last month and she was not doing very well. He has not spoken to her as of late, but Mary seems to be struggling to provide for her family. We will continue attempting to contact her to assess her current situation better.
Thank you for your support and patience!

Pst.joseph    Mar 21, 2014

I communicated with Mary just now and she told me that her business has gone down completely and even getting something to eat is through the mercy of God but she has that spirit of paying the dues.

Mary    Jun 12, 2013

Please my Lenders thanks for supporting me to improve my business. I got sick and I was not in a position of opening my business but now I have recovered but the business has dropped. I decided to reschedule the loan in order to cover the situation. Thank you for your patience. This time I know I will be in a position of paying my dues.

• Hope2012    Jun 13, 2013

  Thanks very much for letting us know :) take care and best wishes

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analinjsaturria    Jun 10, 2013

Dear lenders,
Please accept our apologies in not keeping you informed about Mary's situation from earlier. We aim to provide the most number of updates to lenders when our borrowers fail to do so, which can happen for a number of reason. The most common of them is the fact that many of them need to travel great distances to access the internet, so posting frequent comments is simply not cost-effective.
In addition to this, the time differences between our staff locations and Kenya, the erratic nature of Kenya's mobile network, and the fact that due to financial constraints our borrowers' phone may be disconnected for weeks, it sometimes takes a longer time than desired to gain a comprehensive picture of the reason behind a borrower's arrears. Because Zidisha does not promise or guarantee the repayment of loans, we try to not provide any information that due to being vague may mislead lenders into expectations our borrowers may or may not be able to fulfill.
That being said, our staff has remained in contact with Mary and our Volunteer Mentors have visited her. Her lateness in meeting her repayments stems from a number of financial difficulties related to her business' performance and several stints of sickness during late 2012 and early 2013. Mary's business remains open. We have informed her of her repayment options as her business stabilizes and have appointed a Volunteer Mentor she's expressed being comfortable working with, to help her assess her financial situation and help her find a repayment schedule she can stick to.
If you have further questions, you can always email us at [email protected]

Thank you for your continued support,

Analin Saturria McGregor
Communications Associate
Zidisha

Hope2012    May 20, 2013

Hi Mary or Zidisha staff.
Can you let us know if this business is still up and running? Is the salon still open and can you encourage Mary to post an update?
Last I heard the loan had been helpful but now it is 6 months overdue and no word. Thanks.

Hope2012    May 20, 2013

Hi Mary or Zidisha staff.
Can you let us know if this business is still up and running? Is the salon still open and can you encourage Mary to post an update?
Last I heard the loan had been helpful but now it is 6 months overdue and no word. Thanks.

Mary    Nov 2, 2012

I thank God for Zidisha. The loan was really helpful as I was able to purchase new equipment for my salon. I thank all the lenders that helped me to realise this dream of having a new salon. I pray that God will keep you going so that you can support and give hope to more people in realizing their dreams.

• Hope2012    Mar 26, 2013

  Hello Mary how are things with you and your business? Do stay in touch.

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• Hope2012    May 20, 2013

  Hi zidisha staff. Can you let us know if this business is still up and running? Is the salon still open? We could do with an update here, thanks.

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• Hope2012    May 20, 2013

  Hi zidisha staff. Can you let us know if this business is still up and running? Is the salon still open? We could do with an update here, thanks. Last I heard the loan had been helpful but now it is 6 months overdue and no word. Thanks.

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traciyoshiyama    Aug 29, 2012

August 28, 2012

Hello, my name is Traci Yoshiyama, Zidisha’s Kenya Client Relationship Manager. I am currently visiting Zidisha borrowers in and around Nairobi.

Named after a favorite cousin, Tamara Beauty Salon screams of femininity, with its walls covered with posters displaying various hairstyles and catchy phrases such as, “Build you confidence”, “Stand out”, or “You look fabulous”. “Women want to feel beautiful. If you promise them beauty, the cost does not matter.” Zidisha borrower, Mary Matheya, makes this claim many times while in deep concentration braiding a customer’s hair. Fashionably dressed in high-heeled boots and stylish jeans, Mary has hours of braiding ahead of her (four hours to be exact).

Many women share the memory of grooming the hair of their favorite doll when they were young, but for Mary it all began with grass. Finding joy in braiding, she practiced with blades of grass, later turning to her schoolmates. Realizing her hobby could become her profession, Mary took a training course which specialized in teaching various braiding styles. In 1999, Tamara Beauty Salon was born. Remarking on the significance of doing something you love, Mary shows a palpable sense a pride for choosing her path in life.

Although she has come a long way, Mary has big dreams to expand her business and Zidisha is just the organization to help her accomplish them. Being new to Zidisha, Mary wants to receive a loan in hopes of purchasing more chairs for added comfort for her customers and items to sell, such as nail polish, earrings, and hair dye. Like many borrowers, Mary heard of Zidisha through a friend. Understanding the importance of networking, Mary gets many of her customers through this very method. She comments on the quality service she provides, which results in many recommendations sent her way. Her current customer, Lencer, hearing about Mary through a friend and this being her first visit, can attest to Mary’s service, for after hours of braiding, the satisfaction of Mary’s work is evident on Lencer’s face. She does not leave without saying she will be back and will not come without a friend.

As the afternoon turns to evening, my day with Mary must end. I look forward to her joining the Zidisha community and I hope to be here to see Tamara Beauty Salon prosper. As I am getting ready to leave, Mary extends an offer of her braiding expertise to me. After observing her obvious talent and meticulous nature for perfection, I strongly contemplate a new hairdo. Next time I am in Ongata Rongai, I think I will take Mary up on her offer and let her work her magic to make me beautiful!

To view more pictures of my day with Mary, visit my blog, talkingstory.posterous.com