Bena    May 11, 2013

I would be willing to fund a portion of an increase to Peter's loan amount to give him another chance to get on his feet. Is this a possibility?

analinjsaturria    May 10, 2013

Dear lenders,

This is Analin Saturria McGregor, Communications Associate at Zidisha.

In developing countries, paying back a debt is not only a financial, but also a heavy moral obligation. Upon failure to meet loan repayments, borrowers often go through feelings of anxiety, guilt, and shame, and are reluctant to contact us or answer to the contact attempts of staff, community officials, and Volunteer Mentors. Being considered, as he wrote on his February comment, "the only one reliable in his family" is something Peter takes seriously. After several contact attempts, we finally heard from Peter in mid-April.

In addition to being the only one of his family with the financial capacity to take care of the medical needs of his seriously ill mother, Peter informed us his dairy cows died. In consequence, his business went under. The hopes of increased income through the second dairy cow he purchased with his loan are now gone. Sadly, Peter had no protection against this event, as insurance of any kind in a country like Kenya involves a prohibitively high financial cost and endless red tape to go through in paperwork and legal technicalities that must be met. Peter acknowledged receiving our messages reminding him of his past due loan repayments, but being in the serious hardship he was, he felt helpless and afraid of our reaction.

There is, however, a source of great inspiration for all of us in this story: despite all his troubles, Peter has continued to keep his three children in school. For us at Zidisha, ensuring that loan repayment obligations do not compromise the living likelihood of a family is of utmost importance. So often in developing countries parents pull their children out of school in times of financial hardship: not only to spare themselves the payment of school fees (which in Kenya can be quite high), but to make them work and help the family. We truly believe that Peter's commitment to ensure the consistent education of his children is priceless.

We remain in contact with the Assistant Chief in Kiptangwanyi, who signed Peter's letter of recommendation, and will keep you posted as we know more.
Thank you all for your patience and support.

Admin    May 10, 2013

Dear lenders,

This is Analin Saturria McGregor, Communications Associate at Zidisha.

In developing countries, paying back a debt is not only a financial, but also a heavy moral obligation. Upon failure to meet loan repayments, borrowers often go through feelings of anxiety, guilt, and shame, and are reluctant to contact us or answer to the contact attempts of staff, community officials, and Volunteer Mentors. Being considered, as he wrote on his February comment, "the only one reliable in his family" is something Peter takes seriously. After several contact attempts, we finally heard from Peter in mid-April.

In addition to being the only one of his family with the financial capacity to take care of the medical needs of his seriously ill mother, Peter informed us his dairy cows died. In consequence, his business went under. The hopes of increased income through the second dairy cow he purchased with his loan are now gone. Sadly, Peter had no protection against this event, as insurance of any kind in a country like Kenya involves a prohibitively high financial cost and endless red tape to go through in paperwork and legal technicalities that must be met. Peter acknowledged receiving our messages reminding him of his past due loan repayments, but being in the serious hardship he was, he felt helpless and afraid of our reaction.

There is, however, a source of great inspiration for all of us in this story: despite all his troubles, Peter has continued to keep his three children in school. For us at Zidisha, ensuring that loan repayment obligations do not compromise the living likelihood of a family is of utmost importance. So often in developing countries parents pull their children out of school in times of financial hardship: not only to spare themselves the payment of school fees (which in Kenya can be quite high), but to make them work and help the family. We truly believe that Peter's commitment to ensure the consistent education of his children is priceless.

We remain in contact with the Assistant Chief in Kiptangwanyi, who signed Peter's letter of recommendation, and will keep you posted as we know more.
Thank you all for your patience and support.

aarongabrielson    Feb 22, 2013

Good to hear from you Peter. Best of luck to you!

Peter    Feb 16, 2013

thanks so much all my lenders. i would like to take this oppotunity to thank all of you for your patients. since last month i have been in a very hard time, my mother got ill so serious, and i was the only relied person in our family.i have not ignored the reschedule of my loan profile, but its only that i did not understand the process of reschedule. im also paying the school fees for my young's i have decided to reschedule my profile coz i want yo be faithfull in my repayments i may pay the whole amount before the time if God wishes thank so much my lender.