traciyoshiyama    Sep 4, 2012

September 3, 2012

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

As my weeks of visiting clients quickly turn to months, I begin to see a pattern amongst many Zidisha borrowers. Their initial reaction to Zidisha’s unique microlending model is usually one of incredulity, but also curiosity, for most have never heard of peer-to-peer lending before. Upon receiving their loan, what first was skepticism quickly turns to gratitude and an eagerness to spread the word. My visit with borrower, Ann Wanjiru, was no different. As I explain the process of P2P lending in greater depth, she stares back at me with a look of disbelief on her face. “How does God think of you people, giving money to those poorer than you to raise them up? It takes a very special heart to do that. Not everyone is like that.” Soon after, I am greeted by friends of Ann who are interested in joining the Zidisha community. And like many before her, happy with her borrowing experience, Ann has made Zidisha her primary financial service.

After the tragic loss of her eldest daughter several years ago, Ann found herself with the responsibility of caring for her two grandchildren. And with the unemployment rate being a staggering 40% in Kenya, Ann’s son and daughter are without work as well, making it ever more crucial for her to run successful businesses. And that she has done! Through the selling of bananas and transporting water to the ever-growing construction sites in Utawala, Ann has been able to fulfill her role as the sole provider for her family.

It only being 9:30 in the morning, Ann has already made 1500 KES (almost $20) through her banana sales. Produce stalls appear in the thousands here in Kenya and among the most popular items to sell are bananas. Despite the high population of suppliers, Ann manages to stay on top through a combination of quality customer care and carefully chosen bananas. Currently only selling bananas and working from her home, Ann would like to see her business grow into a shop where she can sell a wide variety of produce, such as avocados, arrowroot, and sweet potato. Although her first Zidisha loan was intended for this purpose, Ann noticed the profitability of transporting and selling water. With the sprouting of many residential homes in Utawala, construction sites are in constant need of water for the mixing of cement. With an entrepreneurial spirit, Ms. Wanjiru used her Zidisha loan to purchase a donkey and a cart. This being a mobile business, I was unable to see her new donkey and cart in action, but I take it as a good sign that it was not sitting idly at home.

Today being the day Ann goes to a nearby town to replenish her banana stock, we part ways shortly after it begins. This is not before making future plans to return to Utawala to introduce Zidisha to more of her friends. While taking photos of Ann and her family, she exclaims, “Oh, it’s a beautiful day. It’s like my birthday!” On the contrary, it is Ann who surprises me with a gift, for on the bus back to the city, long after I leave Utawala, the conductor tells me Ann has paid for my fare.

• Hope2012    Jan 9, 2014

  Hello I know this loan has been written off but could you give us an update on what happened and whether the family are well? Thanks

  Log in to reply • Share

traciyoshiyama    Sep 2, 2012

Dear lenders,

My name is Traci Yoshiyama and I am Zidisha's Kenya Client Relationship Manager. I will be visiting Ann Wanjiru tomorrow in Utawala! If anyone has any questions or comments you would like me to pass along to Ms. Wanjiru, I would be more than happy to do so. Please feel free to post questions on her profile.

Best,
Traci Yoshiyama
talkingstory.posterous.com

Ann    Jul 4, 2012

Hi. Please activate my account. Am really in need of this loan.
Thanks.