Pass my technical skills to youths in my community

James

Irigu-ini, Kenya

Funds disbursed

$0 to go

100% funded of $2,317 goal

days left

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How it Works

Entrepreneur

Name

James

Member since

December 2015

On-time repayments

399 installments • 92%

About Me

I am the second born son in a family of four. My younger two siblings are girls whom we used to cook for with my older brother as our parents went to work.
I was brought up in a tiny village Central Kenya, Mount Kenya region.I started basic education in a local school and cotinued to primary education. As young boys i recall as we went swimming in a river that flows down deep ridges and our parents got worried very much.
Later i went to Thika town for my secondary education at Thika High School.
Later i went to study Aircraft Maintenance course in our city Nairobi at Wilson Airport and got a certificate in engine & airframe.While there i also studied Electrical science. I got employment in a local maintenance firm that later collapsed. From there i started vending fresh vegetables at Wangige Market near our city Nairobi.
At Nairobi life wasn't easy at all. At some point i decided to live in the slums because good rooms were so expensive to rent. So i moved to Dandora slums. I even went a step further to walking half distance to work and half by bus to save some cash.
In early year 2015 i felt it was time to be an entrepreneur because i was still struggling for my needs. I had enough skills so retreated back to the village where my Mum gave me a small room to establish a workshop at home. Life was so hard trying to establish myself until ZIDISHA came to my rescue where i got a loan to rent a big workshop in our local shopping center where i have grown steadly. Thanks to all Lenders.
Every year i pay 70 USD to our local county authority for business licence and a monthly rent of 70 USD. I also pay 170 USD per week to wages of my employees.
I do re-invest my profits in my business, support to my parents and my siblings,also community projects contributions and also buying construction materials for a rental house i keep on developing and adding more units. I also support two elderly women who are about 100 yrs old by visiting them regularly. Of late am also supporting an old Man, a war Veteran through food stuff. I love caring for the needy.

My Business

My business operates under the name Jaycobs Electric & Building Services. I operate a workshop and a sales section where we sell electrical fittings, lightings, conduits, electronics repair, and offer consultations.
In the workshop we do electrical and electronics repair, mechanical repairs and installations.
In average we make a monthly profit of 700 to 900 USD.

Project Proposal

My Dear Lenders, having been able to achieve much from your support am hoping to teach a group of youths who show interest in technical skills but lack financing to a technical training institute.
Severally many youths admire my job and tell me they wish their parents are capable of paying fees for them to train in institutes. This really make me have an urge and feeling of helping them achieve these skills so that they are able to employ themselves like myself. On this matter all I have been able to achieve is to take three of them as artisans to learn from me but I need to move it abit higher and give many a chance by setting aside a training space behind my shop and equip it with technical tools and equipments.

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M
Mary Nov 14, 2018

James is an excellent Zidisha Borrower. He sets a clear business plan and strives to fulfill the needs of his community. I recommend lending for his future loans!

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camilberlin Mar 19, 2017

Paid back full and on time, and let us know how he is doing. On top of it he is a volunteer mentor. Will lend again any time. Recommended!

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