Clean cookstoves for rural women on rent to own model

Francis

Chipata, Zambia

6% paid forward

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How it Works

Entrepreneur

Name

Francis

Member since

March 2016

On-time repayments

348 installments • 77%

About Me

Growing up in a Village and raised by great grandmother, i studied under a kerosene lamp and every month i missed school due to sickness caused by the fumes from the kerosene lamps. Its an experience i don't wish any child or woman to go through. My great grandmothers meager earning she used to have was mostly spent on my medication, while my uncles were busy abusing my aunties and spending their money on beers. I grew up knowing the challenges women go through. I grew up knowing that when a woman is empowered then the whole village is empowered. I saw it through my great grandmother Sofia and through my aunties.

Its this experience that has shaped my career path. I chose to be a Social Entrepreneur so that i can create opportunities for women and girls. So that i can enable women and girls have equal accesses to products and services that can put them on a road to economic prosperity.

My Business

For the past 3 years i set up Kukula Solar, a social business that seek to distribute 100,000 solar products to rural and peri urban communities of Zambia. 90% of these solar products will be put in the hands of women and girls so that they can be empowered to do more. For girls, to study for longer hours and for women to work for longer hours. Its here at Zidisha were we launched this social business and together we have distributed over 3,000 solar lanterns. We still have 97,000 solar lanterns to distribute, thats why i invite all our lenders here to help us get these life changing products to the women and girls I'm so passionate about!

Project Proposal

I plan to restock more clean cookstoves so that I can continue distributing to rural communities of Lundazi, Petauke, and Katete. The biomass cookstoves I'm selling are in high demand and more women are requesting them With the funds I will order 150 clean cookstoves and distribute them to women. The clean cookstoves will impact a total of 870 people, save families $81 annually and also save our forests from deforestation.

My Videos

Jan 18, 2021: Impacting lives using zidisha loans

Feedback

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KM
Kirk Moore Jul 9, 2021

Thanks for paying back early!

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Cianna Jan 18, 2021

Francis is the best! I am happy to support such an innovative and pro-social entrepreneur! I will continue to lend each time Francis makes a request since he is doing some truly amazing work!

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David Jan 17, 2021

Loan was originally scheduled to take three months. Despite the pandemic hampering his business, Francis continued making regular payments, completing the loan in 13 months. I appreciate your commitment during a very challenging time.

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David Dec 1, 2019

Although the loan was for a larger amount, regular payments were received and the loan was paid in full as originally scheduled. I am pleased to be able to help such an amazing project.

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TomF925 Mar 7, 2019

Thanks for sharing your website:
www.kukulasolar.com
I certainly recommend everyone have a look. Well done! Also, Zidisha blog has a great article about Francis:
p2p-microlending-blog.zidis...

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TomF925 Mar 21, 2017

March 15, 2018. Just a friendly suggestion for everyone to visit Francis' inspiring campaign:
LIGHTING UP LIVES IN RURAL ZAMBIA
igg.me/at/BU8v3PUek-U
March 21, 2017
I am thrilled by each message and each photo that Francis posts in the Discussion. Have a look everyone!

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Jan Mar 20, 2017

+1 Francis' enthusiasm
+1 Francis' story's
+1 Francis' repayments

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BernadetteV Mar 19, 2017

Francis many regular repayments and kept us informed about his business. It was a pleasure to lend to him.

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Project Info

Project Type

Pay It Forward

Disbursed amount

$1,342.00

Date disbursed

Jun 20, 2021

Other projects

Backers

Phillip Zink

United States

Paul Buchheit

Mountain View, United States

Netherlands

Daisuke

Tokyo, Japan

Anonymous

United States

Opoku

Accra, Ghana

Ask Francis 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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M
Mårten Dec 21, 2022

How is it going Francis?

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Francis Nov 23, 2021

Business is slow and i have been unwell

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Francis Nov 21, 2021

The business has been slow lately and its affecting revenue collections. We are working on it to improve our repayments

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Francis Sep 29, 2021

Slow in business

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Francis Aug 18, 2021

The business has been affected by the COVID Pandemic

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Francis Jul 20, 2021

My city has been hit with the third wave of covid and it's affected the business due to the lockdown of the province.

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Francis Jul 13, 2021

Low sales due to lockdown and some orders have not arrived yet.

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Francis Jun 27, 2021

We have a national lockdown due to covid 19 and our stock of clean cookstoves have not yet reached our stores. will revert back to normal payment once things go back to normal. Thanks

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Francis Jun 27, 2021

There is national lockdown and our clients income has reduced drastically. We have a 21 days total lockdown with the raise in covid cases. will return to my normal repayments once this is lifted. Thanks for understanding and continued support.

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Francis Jun 20, 2021

Thanks for the Pay it Forward funds that I have raised. I will restock clean Cookstove inventory so that I reach more people. Thanks alot

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Francis Jun 18, 2021

The previous Pay it Forward of $49 helped me buy a smartphone to capture data for my customers who are buying clean cookstoves on the rent-to-own model. This is helping my business to efficiently run smoothly in a new district and helping to have customer information instantly.

Thanks so very much!

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- (Comment deleted by author)
  - Francis Jun 18, 2021
    
    Hey laurie,
    
    Thanks so very much!
    
    Sure I will send an email to Julia and ask her.
    
    Thanks for your continued support!
    
    ZIKOMO. Thankyou
    
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Francis Jun 17, 2021

Dear Backers,

Thanks so very much for the funds! I will buy a smartphone that will help me ensure that I capture all the information for my clean cookstoves customers who are buying on Rent to own model.

I really appreciate you and thanks for your continued support!

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Francis Jun 11, 2021

Thanks so very much to all my backers for these funds! I will be buying a Smartphone to help with my field officer based in Lundazi to record customer's clients who are buying clean cookstoves on a rent-to-own model. This will help if clients record-keeping for after-sales service and also tracking of clients for repayment schedules.

I really appreciate this and thanks a million!

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Francis Jun 7, 2021

Dear Lenders, Thanks so very much for the loan you lent me. I received the money and managed to order more solar lights and clean cookstoves. We have started the distribution to rural communities and we will keep you posted.

Thanks again for lending to my social business.

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Francis May 12, 2021

Thanks so very much my lenders for lending me yet another loan! In two day I managed to have my loan fully funded! Zikomo. Thanks a million!

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Ren and Joyce Miguel like this.
Olly Ishmael May 10, 2021

Wonderful project. I wish you every success

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- Francis May 11, 2021
  
  Thanks so very much Olly for your continued support!
  
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wisdom2080 May 10, 2021

Keep up the great job! Hope you can sell other stuff to increase margins to help more-

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- Francis May 11, 2021
  
  You are very right and we are looking for other life-changing products that we can introduce to the communities we serve. Thanks for your support towards growing my business.
  
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Cianna May 9, 2021

All the best to you as you continue this important work!

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- Francis May 10, 2021
  
  Thanks so very much Cianna for your kind word and continued support!
  
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Francis May 8, 2021

Hello, my lenders,

I want to thank all of you for your continued support. My success has been made possible because of your continued support and lending me money.

The last microloan I got of ZMW20,000 helped me to distribute 450 clean cookstoves in Lundazi. The total revenue I made was ZMW112,500 in 3 months and managed to repay the loan and reinvest the other money in my building project for the family house.

Through your support, I have grown my business and managing to take my two daughters to Private schools.

I have managed to employ a total of 14 people who are working in my business and helping their families.

You have helped me turn my ideas into reality and transform many people's lives in rural communities of Zambia.

Thanks so much for your continued support and looking forward to working with you on my next microloan application.

Zikomo! Thank you so very much!

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Joyce Miguel, Dixie Davis and Erik G like this.
Francis Apr 15, 2021

Greetings to you my lenders,

The past 2 months have been very interesting at Kukula Solar as we continue to distributing clean cookstoves and solar lamps to villages in Lundazi District. The smiles that we see in these villages are so infectious. Women and girls are happy that they no longer need to walk a long distance to collect firewood for cooking because the clean cookstoves we are selling to them use twigs and cow dung.

Many rural households now have access to clean solar lighting, something that is helping the whole household.

We at Kukula Solar are very happy with your continued support

Thanks so very much and will continue to keep you updated on the developments.

ZIKOMO! THANK YOU!

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Treesforpeople, TomF925, Jonathan Ely, Margaret, Deirdre and Dixie Davis like this.