Solar lanterns for harvest time

Francis

Chipata, Zambia

100% repaid

Entrepreneur

Name

Francis

Member since

March 2016

On-time repayments

348 installments  •  77%

About Me

Growing up in a Village and raised by great grandmother, i studied under a kerosene lamp and every month i missed school due to sickness caused by the fumes from the kerosene lamps. Its an experience i don't wish any child or woman to go through. My great grandmothers meager earning she used to have was mostly spent on my medication, while my uncles were busy abusing my aunties and spending their money on beers. I grew up knowing the challenges women go through. I grew up knowing that when a woman is empowered then the whole village is empowered. I saw it through my great grandmother Sofia and through my aunties.

Its this experience that has shaped my career path. I chose to be a Social Entrepreneur so that i can create opportunities for women and girls. So that i can enable women and girls have equal accesses to products and services that can put them on a road to economic prosperity.

My Business

For the past 3 years i set up Kukula Solar, a social business that seek to distribute 100,000 solar products to rural and peri urban communities of Zambia. 90% of these solar products will be put in the hands of women and girls so that they can be empowered to do more. For girls, to study for longer hours and for women to work for longer hours. Its here at Zidisha were we launched this social business and together we have distributed over 3,000 solar lanterns. We still have 97,000 solar lanterns to distribute, thats why i invite all our lenders here to help us get these life changing products to the women and girls I'm so passionate about!

Loan Proposal

I'm applying for a loan to buy 10 Sun King Home System for women in a rural village who have requested for them so that they can pay once they harvest their produce. These Solar Home systems will cost $70 each and i will spend $700 for the 10 units. The remaining $150 i will use it for logistics and communication. These Solar Home systems will have a tremendous impact on the women who have ordered for them because they will be able to save more money once they install the solar home systems. For my business our profit will increase by 35% from this loan and will help is to continue transforming lives through solar lighting. This loan will enable is to distribute about 50 solar home systems in 6 months because for every payment we will be restocking our inventory.

My Videos

Jan 18, 2021: Impacting lives using zidisha loans

Feedback

9

None

None

  • Kirk Moore    Jul 9, 2021

    Thanks for paying back early!

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  • Cianna    Jan 18, 2021

    Francis is the best! I am happy to support such an innovative and pro-social entrepreneur! I will continue to lend each time Francis makes a request since he is doing some truly amazing work!

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  • David    Jan 17, 2021

    Loan was originally scheduled to take three months. Despite the pandemic hampering his business, Francis continued making regular payments, completing the loan in 13 months. I appreciate your commitment during a very challenging time.

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  • David    Dec 1, 2019

    Although the loan was for a larger amount, regular payments were received and the loan was paid in full as originally scheduled. I am pleased to be able to help such an amazing project.

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  • TomF925    Mar 7, 2019

    Thanks for sharing your website:
    www.kukulasolar.com
    I certainly recommend everyone have a look. Well done! Also, Zidisha blog has a great article about Francis:
    p2p-microlending-blog.zidis...

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  • TomF925    Mar 21, 2017

    March 15, 2018. Just a friendly suggestion for everyone to visit Francis' inspiring campaign:
    LIGHTING UP LIVES IN RURAL ZAMBIA
    igg.me/at/BU8v3PUek-U
    March 21, 2017
    I am thrilled by each message and each photo that Francis posts in the Discussion. Have a look everyone!

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  • Jan    Mar 20, 2017

    +1 Francis' enthusiasm
    +1 Francis' story's
    +1 Francis' repayments

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  • BernadetteV    Mar 19, 2017

    Francis many regular repayments and kept us informed about his business. It was a pleasure to lend to him.

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Loan Info

Project Type

Classic Loan

Disbursed amount

$1,073.00

Date disbursed

Mar 15, 2019

Repayment status

Late

Projected term

5 months

Lenders

Q

Quomar

Żmigród, Poland

PaulE

Cockeysville, MD, United States

MarktheMormon

Sandy, Utah, United States

Svenip

Vienna, Austria

C

cjmenchaca

Austin, United States

A

AlexCheng

Seattle, United States

Tavin

Ottawa, Canada

JessieD

Alexandria, Va, United States

Cloudways

Malta, Malta

M

Mårten

Inden, Switzerland

V

Valis

Singapore, Singapore

L

Liz

Nowra, Australia

TomF925

www.AfricaLeap.com, United States

mepster

San Francisco, Ca, United States

Lisbeth

Perth, Australia

S

Staffan

Mölndal, Sweden

Laparo

Dusseldorf, Germany

melissapmeier

United States

Jan

Netherlands

Lotus Flower

United States

Richard

Shrewsbury, United Kingdom

K

Katka

St Albans, United Kingdom

Tom Eggert

Madison, United States

Deirdre

Yorkshire, United Kingdom

JH

Joseph Hwang

Houston, United States

B

Berni

Germany

L

Liz

Canada

Don Williams

New Zealand

H

Haley

United States

LM

Lee Montecucco

Washington State, United States

E

EJOBIV

United States

J

Netherlands

Joshi

United States

KA

Kate and Tom

United States

Dustin Lape

Lynchburg, United States

J

Jason

West Palm Beach, United States

RS

Ralph Smyth

United Kingdom

GF

Gammon Family

United States

T

T

United States

CA

Chad Aboud

Toronto, Canada

Angela Chu

Toronto, Canada

E

eoghan

Switzerland

M

mhuuden

Netherlands

H

Helen

United States

R

Rafael

Switzerland

Ask Francis a question about this project, share news and photos of your own, or send a simple note of thanks or inspiration.

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