Lucy    Aug 9, 2013

hi zidisha team, i have decided to reschedule my repayment pattern so that I can be paying 2000 Kenya shillings instead of 4000 Kenya shillings. my business has not been able to finance the loan installments. It is my hope that I will be able to pay 2000 per month until I complete repaying the loan. Thank you once more for your continued support.

traciyoshiyama    Dec 12, 2012

December 12, 2012

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

I am often asked the question, “What do people actually use a microloan for?” Most typically it is used to invest in a business, whether it be to restock their store, buy furniture to create a more delightful ambiance, or maybe even rent a bigger space to accommodate for their growing customer base. Although loans are used to make incremental changes in a business, what lies beneath the surface of these business decisions have infinite benefits. With increases in profit, some are able to pay for school fees; another may have an opportunity to open a business for their spouse, while others can now afford a plot of land. For Zidisha borrower, Lucy Waweru, receiving a loan not only means adding new items to her shop, but also more time spent with her family.

For twelve years, Lucy sold produce in an open market in the town of Kikuyu. Not being close to home, her days were spent in the market or traveling to and from, leaving little time for her family. Not wanting to spend the latter years of her life on hard travel and missed memories with her loved ones, Lucy opened Top Hills six months ago, a general shop located seconds away from her home. Lucy’s three daughters, son, and three grandchildren now enjoy her company on a daily basis. Currently on holiday from school, I witnessed the undeniable elation Lucy’s grandchildren felt in the midst of her company. The calling for “Cucu!” (pronounced shosho and meaning grandmother in Kikuyu) could be heard repeatedly during my visit, as the eldest granddaughter shared her latest discoveries with Lucy while playing. The youngest, crying often during my visit, always sought the comfort of his grandmother and was immediately calmed by her presence. Lucy’s children, all boisterous and equally pleasant company, were also home, helping her with Top Hills, entertaining me with good conversation, and even assisting Lucy with Zidisha matters.

In order to sustain her business, stay close to home, and compete with other shops in Dagoretti Center, Lucy would like to add more variety to her stock. Although Top Hills carries the necessities for everyday living, she finds herself turning away customers on a daily basis. With her first Zidisha loan she would like to purchase different types of flour, cereals, fats, and detergents. Also new to Zidisha and currently the only member in Dagoretti, Lucy would like to introduce the organization to others, already building interest with her daughter who sells coffee door to door.

I leave Dagoretti for the first time, hoping it is not my last. Thank you Lucy for a wonderful visit. You have a lovely family and I wish you all the best with Top Hills.