roberta.zenere    Sep 30, 2013

Dear lenders,

my name is Roberta Zenere and I am a Kenya Country Liaison Intern at Zidisha.

I will copy here an email that we have received today from Sammy Kanja, Mr Kiiru's Volunteer Mentor.

"First is to thank God for this golden chance.I am wtriting to inform you that i went to meet Mr.Kiiru in Nairobi as i stated in last week.I manange to travel on thirsday morning.When i reached to his business,i was shock to here that he was among the affected people in westgate mole.
I took a bus to the west land where the sager was.later i so his name displayed on the black book stating that he was admitted to the hospital.Without wasting of time,i went to the mention hospital and meet him while he was under special treatment.I could not manange to meet him.On Friaday morning ,i was the first person to reach there,the doctor welcome me after i introduce my self as vollunteer mentor of zidisha and i wanted to meet on of our client who was in the westgate during the attack.
I meet him while he was taking tear.infact, icould not be able to overcome the tears out of my self,but i remember one of the roporter who was doing his job to one of the local Radio while his brother was among the peple who were attacked.Later he explaine to me what happend during the incindence.he said to have been visiting one of his friend who was learning a business inside when the attacker came and shoot them all.
After we held a long time negociations,i told him i was given only twenty minute to because it was not time to visit them,he shouted with the lound and started crying saing do not let me sleep here ones again because i have no money to pay for the hospital bill,my wife went away when i reached to the hospital on sunday.My heart beat like a disco becouse i was not expecting to here that.
Meanwhile i went back to the doctor an asked about it.After we held talk ,i remember to have a cow and two donkey cart at home.I took my phone and call my wife for that matter.My wife was full of tears to here her uncle was among the victim,Later she sold them at a through price to save our uncle.
I used the money to tranfer hime to the private hospital for farther treatment,as i am writing to you,he is in good condition and i am expecting to take him to his sister on wenesday as per the doctor.
I would like you to pray for me and quick recorvery"

Mr Kiiru us in our thoughts during this hard time and the whole Zidisha team wishes him a prompt recovery.

Thanks for your understanding.

Best regards,

Roberta
Zidisha Team

• roberta.zenere    Oct 2, 2013

  Dear Lenders,
  
  I will copy here an updates that we have received this morning regarding Mr Kiiru. I am using the words of Sammy Kanja, his Volunteer Mentor, who sent an email to Zidisha this morning.
  
  "Hi Roberta,
  I am very happy to have chance to write to you.I will not be able to remove Mr.Kiiru from the hospital today because his health is not all that well as i was instructed by the doctor.He will be remaining to the hospital for the next 7 days from today so as to let the doctor investigate him well.I will be traveling back to Nakuru to meet my family and my business as wel."
  
  Please, let us know if you have any questions.
  
  Best regards,
  
  Roberta
  Zidisha Team

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• D

  dball    Oct 12, 2013

  Thanks for the information, and get better soon!
  
  I got an email about forgiving my share of Sammy Kanja's loan (see below). I would like to do that, but do not know how (the email did not provide a link, neither do I see one on this page). Please tell me how to do it.
  
  
  Best
  David
  
  ---------------------------
  Text from the email:
  In exceptional cases, Zidisha offers lenders the option to forgive loans to borrowers who have experienced an unexpected misfortune which affects their ability to repay the loan. In these cases, each lender has the option to forgive his or her share of the loan. Such decisions will remain anonymous and are completely at each lender's discretion.
  
  Should you decide to forgive this loan, you will be declining to receive further repayments from Sammy Kanja, and the loan's outstanding balance of USD 740.17 will be reduced by the amount that had been remaining due to you under the original loan agreement.
  
  Would you like to forgive your share of this loan?

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Sammy    Aug 7, 2013

My names are Sammy kanja Volunteer Mentor.I am taking this opportunity to thanks zidisha team for allowing Lenders to ask questions direct.I just have a call to Mr.Kiiru this morning,to know whether he has changed his thought regarding to his repayment,i found it is as he stated yesterday to start on Sep.As you know since his brother died on march,his mind has not resettled.

AWOL    Aug 5, 2013

Hello Fracis (or is it Francis?),

How are you doing? The reason I ask is you have not yet made any
payments on your loan. I know your brother died in March and
that has delayed everything, but maybe you can reschedule
the loan again.

Best regards,

analinjsaturria    Mar 8, 2013

Dear Lenders,

I'm Analin Saturria McGregor, one of Zidisha's Communications Associates.
I just received a message from one of our Volunteer Mentors (in fact, he helped Mr. Kiiru post his loan application) to let me know that he spoke with Mr. Kiiru on the phone today. We are saddened to hear that Mr. Kiiru's brother has died recently. His burial will take place in the next couple of days.
In developing countries, funerals can take several days or weeks and families are expected to rally together to cover the financial burden involved with preparing a funeral (which at times involve hosting whole villages who come to pay their respects). Mr. Kiiru is appealing to your understanding and ours regarding his lateness on his loan repayment as he and his family lay his brother to rest.

traciyoshiyama    Dec 17, 2012

December 17, 2012

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

It is said that a person’s true character is revealed when confronted with challenge and controversy. Week after week, I speak with those who have encountered many adversities in life, misfortunes and hardships that test the strongest of minds. And week after week, as I sit and chat with Zidisha borrowers across Kenya, I am never met with self-pity or deprecation, but rather an unwavering determination to succeed. Last week, I was greeted in Dandora, a slum in eastern Nairobi, by a charismatic mzee (respected elder), beaming from ear to ear. This man was Francis Kiiru.

Francis grew up in the Rift Valley, situated approximately three hours from Nairobi. In the year 2000, without notice or pay, Francis was let go of his job with the Ministry of Lands. Being the sole provider of his family of nine, he decided to move to Dandora and start a general shop. Due to the high costs of living in Nairobi and lack of security in Dandora, Francis’s eight children and wife remain in Nakuru. Dandora being prone to rampant crime and Francis having experienced theft in the past, it is not often that he can leave his shop to visit his family. But despite the distance, Francis manages to take care of his loved ones, sending money to his wife through M-PESA everyday.

Although they have a small farm in Nakuru, the produce is not plentiful enough to generate any income or put food on the table. Francis also bought his wife a sewing machine to begin her own tailoring business, but due to their location, it did not take off. His general store being his family’s only source of income, Francis is able to pay for six of his children to attend school, along with all their basic necessities, such as food and housing. With the help of Zidisha and his lenders, Francis used his loan to buy stock, such as sugar, flour, salt, toilet paper, and soap. Although his first priority is providing for his family, Francis would like to rent a bigger space for his shop, hoping that future Zidisha loans can assist in this endeavor.

Despite the sacrifices Francis has had to make, his attitude remains resilient. The smile you see in my photos is not for the camera’s sake, but a true representation of a man that believes he has and will continue to succeed. Being only one of two Zidisha borrowers in Dandora, Francis would like to see his friends benefit from the organization as he has. I have a strong feeling, and I must admit, a bit of hope, that I will be back soon. Thank you for a nice visit Francis and good luck with your business over the holidays!

Photo 1 - Francis in his shop
Photo 2- Francis and fellow Zidisha borrower, Samwel Nganga
Photo 3 - Francis, Samwel, and neighboring business owners

To see more photos of my visit with Francis, go to www.talkingstory.posterous....

Fracis    Dec 12, 2012

Thank be to all Lender and Zidisha family,I am writing to you to request for addition to grace period to the repayment.I wiil be able to start to pay on 19/feb/2013 because during this months i have been out of my job for more than two months.I started being to the job this month.If God will i will make on the given date as per given by your management.

Fracis    Oct 18, 2012

Dear lenders, i am writing to inform you i have been to the waiting for your raise since Augast to date without been funded.Please help me to raise my account.

Fracis    Oct 5, 2012

Hi Lenders tomorrow wil be the greatest day because my son wil have a weeding.I have invited you also.

Fracis    Sep 5, 2012

Hi lenders i woke very early in the morning as usual to open my shop.I met all my worker are in shop compound waiting for the keys to open.After we open the shop,we were lead by a prayer by one of the lady to whom is my tenant,through her prayer i heed her mentioning Lender by asking Lord to remember you to fund my loan.I was very shocked to here that because i was not expecting that.I thank God because it was my prayer when i was at home before going to the shop.God bless you.

Fracis    Sep 3, 2012

Dear lenders this is to confirm to that this is my first time to be in this institution.I found that if a person pay well him/her loan this is advantage to him/her.For now i would like to pray for all lenders where they are to fund me.God bless you.