traciyoshiyama    Mar 29, 2013

Dear lenders,

My name is Traci Yoshiyama and I am a Client Relationship Manager in Kenya.

Ephantus Mwangi has been unable to make his payments due to complications with his newborn. Although his business is doing okay, all finances are going towards medical expenses. He hopes to resume making partial payments soon. He understands that he has been behind on his payments for some time and apologizes for the delay.

Mr. Mwangi, the Zidisha team wishes the best for your baby and family. We hope that she gets well soon! I am glad to hear that your business is still going as well!

Best regards,
Traci

Ephantus    Oct 19, 2012

i still dont have enough words to thank the almighty and the entire zidisha team.problems have been following me most of this year.since we met with vivien,i thought i would be able to repay the loan as at 1st september.things changed when my wife got our first born.shehad complications therefore we spent all the money i had on medication .this brought me down to earth but with a bouncing baby boy.i therefore with apology like to reschedule my repayment date to15th november hoping u will bear with the inconvinience.god bless you.

Vivien    Jul 30, 2012

Hello Lenders,

My name is Vivien Barbier and I’m one of the Zidisha’s current client relationship interns for Kenya. Today, I visited Ephantus Mwangi in Ongata Rongai a small town near Nairobi.

Just after having received Zidisha’s loan, Ephantus was expulsed of the garage he was renting because the building was going to be destroyed and replaced by an apartments building. This unexpected situation put Ephantus in a very difficult situation since it is difficult to find place for a garage at an acceptable price. Ephantus and Jackson, his business partner, moved their entire garage material to a storage place. Ephantus is now performing car reparation directly at customer’s location. This allows him to continue his car repair business even without a garage. The biggest disadvantage of this business model is that it is much more difficult for him to find new customers.

When Ephantus saw that his car repair business was in trouble, he decided to invest the money of the loan in another business: a small beauty shop located in the Mont Kenya area. Ephantus is still working in Ongata Rongai near Nairobi, so his wife took charge of the beauty shop in Mt Kenya area. During my visit, Ephantus told me that his second business was not as profitable as expected. The beauty market in Mt Kenya area seems not to be very strong and that was the reason why e just took the decision to relocate this business in Ongata Rongai. When I walk in Ongata Rongai streets a little bit before the sunset, I can see all the ladies hairdressing salon and outlet shop full of women. I’m sure that there is a market for a new beauty shop in here. I also think that it’s a good think for Ephantus and his family to be reunited again.

Ephantus has also new plans for the future; he plans to pass a certificate in car mechanics that will help him to expend his customer base and allow him to work for other garages.

I think that these lasts months had really been a challenge for Ephantus, but I’m happy to see that he is still full of energy and decided to get his business back on his feet.

Vivien Barbier
30th June 2012
Nairobi, Kenya

Admin    Jul 30, 2012

Hello Lenders,

My name is Vivien Barbier and I’m one of the Zidisha’s current client relationship interns for Kenya. Today, I visited Ephantus Mwangi in Ongata Rongai a small town near Nairobi.

Just after having received Zidisha’s loan, Ephantus was expulsed of the garage he was renting because the building was going to be destroyed and replaced by an apartments building. This unexpected situation put Ephantus in a very difficult situation since it is difficult to find place for a garage at an acceptable price. Ephantus and Jackson, his business partner, moved their entire garage material to a storage place. Ephantus is now performing car reparation directly at customer’s location. This allows him to continue his car repair business even without a garage. The biggest disadvantage of this business model is that it is much more difficult for him to find new customers.

When Ephantus saw that his car repair business was in trouble, he decided to invest the money of the loan in another business: a small beauty shop located in the Mont Kenya area. Ephantus is still working in Ongata Rongai near Nairobi, so his wife took charge of the beauty shop in Mt Kenya area. During my visit, Ephantus told me that his second business was not as profitable as expected. The beauty market in Mt Kenya area seems not to be very strong and that was the reason why e just took the decision to relocate this business in Ongata Rongai. When I walk in Ongata Rongai streets a little bit before the sunset, I can see all the ladies hairdressing salon and outlet shop full of women. I’m sure that there is a market for a new beauty shop in here. I also think that it’s a good think for Ephantus and his family to be reunited again.

Ephantus has also new plans for the future; he plans to pass a certificate in car mechanics that will help him to expend his customer base and allow him to work for other garages.

I think that these lasts months had really been a challenge for Ephantus, but I’m happy to see that he is still full of energy and decided to get his business back on his feet.


Vivien
30th June 2012
Nairobi, Kenya

Ephantus    Jul 30, 2012

Am sorry the place we used as our garage was closed and we had to move.This made us loose most of our clients My side business is not doing well either.The business which I started when I got the loan is a small beauty shop.I started it around Mt Kenya but it did not work out well.Now I want to transfer it to Ongata Rongai where I am expecting it will earn enough to help me repay the loan.God bless you.

• O

  Oliver    Jul 31, 2012

  Hello Ephantus,
  I am sorry to hear about the difficulties with your businesses. It sounds like a very difficult period for you. I wish you all the best for the new location of the beauty shop and good luck for all of your future plans.
  Oliver

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Oliver    Jun 19, 2012

Hello Ephantus,
Is everything alright for you, your family and your business? It is a while since there has been any news and I am concerned for you. I hope all is well. Oliver

Oliver    Mar 1, 2012

I hope the machine for the shock absorbers will help to grow your business. Good luck.

cyrus0302    Feb 28, 2012

Good luck Ephantus! May God bless you and your family :)

Ephantus    Feb 27, 2012

Thanks Lenders May God bless you all who have contributed to my loan, i am sure it will assist me much.keep up and continue the good work.

Ephantus    Feb 22, 2012

Thanks Zidisha for giving me this opportunity to raise loan through this organization God bless zidisha and lenders.