MarcF    Aug 7, 2012

Dear Lenders,

Today I had the pleasure of meeting the Sow family. They live on an unfinished house, only a block away from the beach, in the Parcelles Assaines neightborhood, Greater Dakar.

Since losing his 200 chickens 5 months ago, both his parents and him have been making every effort to afford the monthly installments. Two months ago, Mr. Sow started working part-time as a security guard. His salary of 40,000 FCFA ($ 80 USD) allows him to save 10,000 FCFA ($ 20) every month. To pay for his 15,000 FCFA ($ 30) installments, he borrows 5,000 FCFA ($ 10) from his mother each month. Although given the circumstances, Zidisha gives him the option of reducing the monthly installments, Ndiaga and his family decided to continue to repay the loan at the current rate. This way, Ndiaga’s next loan will come sooner, and Ndiaga doesn’t have to pay more interests. In spite of the bad luck associated with this loan, and the hardships to pay it back; the Sow family is intent on paying back dutifully, and already making plans for Ndiaga’s second loan.
All the best,
Marc
Zidsha Client Relationship Manager in Senegal

Ndiaga    Aug 7, 2012

Hi,
I have been having some family problems – there are too many expenses, and I haven’t been working on the chicken coop. I have been working as a security guard; my salary is paid on the 10th of each month. I receive 40,000 CFA per month (USD 80). I have decided to keep my installments at 15,000 CFA every month because otherwise I would end up paying more interests, which would be hard for me. I also made that decision because I would like another loan when I have finished repaying my current loan. Thank you very much; I accept that the interest rate is fixed at 9%. I thank you and look forward to arranging the next loan when I have finished my repayments. I will use the next loan to raise chickens. I have been raising chickens for 5 years. Thank you Julia.

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bojour je de problem de fami ya baucou de finasma et jepa travaye pore les poule je travay sequrite plag on me pey saqe le 10 40000 se bon davoir paye 15000 saq moi et le to detre se dure je ve un lotre finasmen qen je termin mairsi bauqou le to detre 9% se bon je vou rmersi et arenjma lautre finensma qen je termine de renbouse je ve elvag poule de here sa fe 5en je fe elvag mairsi julia

SEGant    Jun 19, 2012

Dear Lenders,

My name is Sam Gant and I'm currently one of the Client Relationship Managers active here in Senegal. This afternoon I met with Ndiaga at his aunt's house in the busy residential neighborhood of Parcelles 15. Ndiaga is one of the most dedicated clients I've had the pleasure of meeting-- as you may be aware, a cat broke into his chicken coop a few months ago and killed all of his breeding stock, an enormous set back to his goals. Nevertheless, Papa has found employment through the Township of Parcelles as a security guard and lifeguard on the beach, and with his earnings he is continuing to pay back his Zidisha loan. On July 10th he anticipates turning in 2 months worth of repayments, and if all goes well he hopes that soon he will be able to buy another 100 chicks for his (newly reinforced) chicken coop.

He has an indomitable spirit and appreciates the patience and confidence of Zidisha's lenders

Ndiaga    Jun 19, 2012

Hello Zidisha, I’m beginning to work on repaying. Please accept my apologies for the delay; for the moment I’m going to stop working with the chickens. Until then, thank you.

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bonjor zidisha je conmase a travaie seqrite plajer je ve verse le dise pardon pour le derengmen poure lensten je arete les poule jusqa le dise mersi

Ndiaga    Apr 9, 2012

Please accept my apologies. I am going to repay, but I am having difficulties because my mother lent the working capital [which I used to restart my business], and I am repaying her while doing my best to sell by this May. Thank you.

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penrdon julia je vai verse ledi pronse demoi je ve verse encor sek mai le setem moi je de prodlem fami mairsi se mamere qi ma finase poure travaje je traveje un moi je verse un moi le resten de lenrga je le verse s verse a ma mere il la paje de couren e fer de depens prodlem de travaje me je dedrouje disi mai je travaj de pouf et tadle pou vendu mairsi

madelinegbaker    Feb 13, 2012

Dear Lenders,

Here are some pictures of Mr. Sow with his new setup from our recent visit. This current group of chicks should be full grown in a little over a month, when he will then sell them to local customers. He is also rebuilding a second chicken coop with stronger material to keep the cats from eating his growing chicks. Good progress indeed!

Best,
Madeline (new Zidisha intern in Dakar)

Ndiaga    Oct 21, 2011

In early September, a cat into my cage of chickens and killed them all. I will take five months to raise new chickens, sell, and then to pay off the amount of the loan that remains. I just bought twenty chickens and they will soon be ready for sale. I plan to increase my stock as soon as possible. As for the new payment schedule, I think five months is sufficient time to catch up and get back on the right track.

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Au debut de Septembre, un chat est entre dans ma case des poulets et les ont tous tues. Il me faudra cinq mois de plus pour elever de nouvelles poules, les vendre, et puis pour verser la somme qui reste. Je viens d'acheter vingt poussins et ils seront bientot prets a etre vendus. En ce qui concerne le nouveau calendrier, je pense que cinq mois de plus est une duree suffisante pour me ratrapper.

mdenti    Oct 14, 2011

Dear lenders,

My name is Alex Villec, a new volunteer for Zidisha. This afternoon, Megan and I visited Mr. Sow to hear about his recent troubles and efforts to revive his business. An upsetting stint with tuberculosis left Mr. Sow unable to work for nearly a year, but he has convalesced and is in good health. In early September, a cat slipped into his coop during the night and his 100 chickens were killed. With the temporary loss of his inventory he was unable to complete his September 21st payment. Since then, he has sold surplus chicken feed to begin replenishing his stock. At the moment, Mr. Sow has raised about twenty chickens that will be available for sale a few weeks from now. To avoid a similar incident in the future, he has already refurbished a portion of his coop with protective wood and will use his remaining funds to revamp the entire cage. Despite these numerous unfortunate setbacks, Mr. Sow is tenacious and remains committed to success.

Best,
Alex Villec

Julia Kurnia    Oct 1, 2011

Dear lenders,

I spoke today with Mr Sow's brother. He tells me that the entire flock of chickens he had been raising has died of a poultry disease, and that Mr Sow himself is very ill at the moment.

We plan to have an intern visit Mr Sow as soon as he is feeling better, and will continue to keep lenders updated regarding his situation.

Best regards,

Julia Kurnia, Director

jrhuie    Jul 29, 2011

Hi Ndiaga, you missed the July 23rd payment, is everything going OK? I understand it is the rainy season in Senegal right now. Does that impact your business at all? Good luck and I hope everything is going well!

Allen    Apr 9, 2011

Salamalecoum from Africa! Ndiaga Sow is a young Senegalese friend new to Zidisha. Like most young people in Senegal he is taking care of his family (his father recently retired) any way he can. While employment rates are certainly high (48 % in 2007) the numbers given are misleading. The informal economy provides a large part of the work here. This means that locals have to be business savvy to make a living without any job security. And here is Ndiaga who raises chickens and sells to the numerous restaurants in the area. Along with the several chickens he already has, Ndiaga is soliciting a loan with Zidisha to buy more chicks to raise them to continue to support his family. This photo was taken on his roof where he has installed a chicken coop. Ndiaga is currently fundraising for this project.