Entrepreneur
Name
Martin
Member since
November 2014
On-time repayments
38 installments • 45%
About Me
Hi everyone. Am a Kenyan man born along the slopes of Mt. Kenya. Thats where I grew up and also where I attended school until I finished my O'level education.
Due to issues my family was going through then, I was not able to join College but got headlong into earning a living. Life was hard on my own, I worked in a succession of menial jobs but still hoped that one day I woukld be able to continue with my studies; but it wasn't to be for a long time.
In the course of my earning a living, I have movedfrom several towns in Kenya including Limuru, Nyeri, Nyahururu but I finally settled in Nakuru when I got a job with a manufacturing company.
It was exciting in the beginning and I quickly moved from a casual worker to departmental superviser within three years. But still, something was missing. I wanted to be my own boss and better still, I wanted to be in a position where I could bring positive change into the community.
Last year in September, I resigned from my job and started a stone quarrying business and in my free time started engaging in Freelance journalism as a side hustle. It was in journalism that I found my true calling; a chance to speak for the community, to drive change and best of all to engage my passion and talent. Although untrained, the writing and reporting came naturally and this is when I decided to close down the stone quarrying business and engage in citizen journalism fulltime.
I have a wife who is a dressmaker and two kids. My daughter is in primary school and my son will join nursery school next year.
My Business
I earn my living through online journalism and youth mentorship.
When I applied for my first Zidisha loan, journalism was just a side husle but has since become my main source of income. In addition, through invitations by several community leaders to address the youth on Zidisha I have evolved into a youth mentor, motivational speaker and a resource person on working online.
This new world is exciting not only for the earnings, but also for the chance to impact positively on the lives of my community.
My journalism work earns me an average of $25 to $30 per week and my speaking engagements bring in about $15 per session. Usually I have 1-2 engagements per month.
My work expenses vary since I travel to different parts daily. Its the tavelling expenses that usually consist the bulk of my work expenses as I move roung covering events. In a typical week I can spend up to $10.
I save 10% of my profits and the rest goes into taking care of the family needs and paying fees for my daughter.
I spend my earnings on school fees for my daughter, food, rent, clothing and other basic necessities.
Loan Proposal
With the funds from this loan, I intend to buy a bicycle that I will use to travel in my news gathering.
I have been spending a lot of money on transport as I go News gathering and by using a bicycle I will be able to save up to $3-$4 per day.
The money thus saved will go into boosting our family savings and by and by, our standards of living will greatly improve.
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Loan Info
Project Type
Classic Loan
Disbursed amount
$52.00
Date disbursed
Jun 13, 2015
Repayment status
Late
Projected term
3 months
Other loans
Lenders
WOLLONGONG, Australia
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