Loan to buy solar - powered lanterns to catch fish

Christopher

Mbita, Kenya, Kenya

100% repaid

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How it Works

Entrepreneur

Name

Christopher

Member since

April 2015

On-time repayments

15 installments • 93%

About Me

I am Christopher Okoth Odida, I was born in 1965 at Kwabwai Village in Ndhiwa Constituency of Homa Bay County in the Republic of Kenya. I did both my primary and secondary education in mid 80's & 90's thereafter engaged in fishing business for income.

I lived a very hard life in my early age. My parents were loving and hardworking though they had limited income to be able to meet the ever-increasing family demands and households obligations.

I completed my High School in 1988 and got married. Our marriage has been blessed with five children. My 4 children are still going to school though my eldest duaghter did not continue with her education after High School.

In my free time, I do participate actively in community building and organizing activities to spearhead local development. My hobbies are; watching football and reading.

My Business

I joined fishing industry as a young person immediately after my College education in 1995 after I failed to get employment. Life was very difficult without income, so I ventured in fishing to be able to meet my family obligations as the head of the family. I am hardworking and fishing activity supports my life and family. I started with one boat and it has been doing so well. We are nowadays venturing into deep lake fishing method and the catch is normally good during the rainy season (March - July) every year. One boat fully operational costs U$ 1,200. I deal with catching the small fish 'omena' and it also has some challenges.

In average, I earn weekly income of US$60, and then I pay workers and other expenses with $30 I then remain with $30; I use part of this to pay for my children school fee and family upkeep.

Loan Proposal

I am seeking a loan of KES 9,130 from ZIDISHA Lenders to enable me buy two energy saving solar-powered lantern lamps to help me reduce the cost of buying kerosene fuel for use in lamps for night time fishing. The kerosene powered lamps are not environmental friendly and is not economic productive for the fishing business, I look forward to increasing my income per day from KES 600 to KES 1,200 due to savings on fuel purchase as I will be using energy saving and environmental -friendly solar-powered lamps to catch fish.