Project Updates

Hallo lenders,
I have added a photo of my peanut butter grinding machine, You can see how the peanut is being grinded into butter. I will be posting more photos while am at work.
Thank you once more and God bless you as I waiting for you Generous lenders to fund me.

With the initial loan of Ksh 3,534, I bough six classroom desks and the children are now happy learning in clean benches/chairs. The purchase of new desks has increased students morale and encouraged parents to be more responsible in paying the school fee on time which has helped to raise enough money to pay teachers salary for the month of February, 2015. Our earning have increased by 15% over the month of February. The increased earning have been used to pay teachers and buy chalk for use in the classrooms.

My eldest daughter has joined Grade 4 this year and she is happy to be able to learn sitting in a comfortable desk (bought with the loan fund) in the classroom.

i have enrolled myself to a video Editing class,i want to have the knowledge of video editing so as in future i open up a studio,am finding it interested and am enjoying my classes,the teaching lessons will go for 3 months.

Dear Lenders,

I spent the day in Tema last week, about an hour outside of Accra, and was fortunate to meet Benjamin first thing – I was grateful for his help navigating around the city!

Ben uses his Zidisha loans to support his wife’s work in fashion and design. Serwah worked as a secretary when she met Ben and started her family, but the work environment was stressful – she was overworked and frequently clashed with overbearing superiors. She had worked with beads as a hobby for 4-5 years already, so after quitting her job eight years ago she went into beading and sewing full time.

Since then, Serwah’s business has exploded. She had to make a last minute run to Accra on the day I visited and I get the idea that busyness and traveling is normal for this family. Serwah travels often to trade shows – she will be in Gambia next week. Everything is manufactured at their home by Serwah herself, 4 permanent staff, 5-8 temporary staff, and apprentices. It’s not just beads, either: while looking through the workshop and everything in production, it was impossible to think up something Serwah hadn’t tried her hand at: jewelry and bags, ipad cases and wallets, beaded gloves and headwear for weddings, sandals, broaches… you get the idea.

Ben’s a busy man, himself. He freelances as a graphic designer and creates labels and packaging for his wife’s designs, is a pastor and community leader at church, teaches at bible colleges, travels regularly for mission work, and just finished a doctoral degree. And this is all in addition to caring for their three children, aged 6, 8, and 13.

I wondered how Serwah’s work had changed the family dynamic, expecting that it might have caused some tension at first, but Ben asserts otherwise. Since quitting her job and following her passion, Ben says she and the family are much happier. She is much less stressed, her work is rewarding, and she is in control of her own time.

Ben and Serwah have used Zidisha loans to help buy materials to boost stock and are very thankful for the support they have received. They hope that as they grow their relationship with lenders and the Zidisha community, they can also expand the business further – allowing for new designs and increased production to meet a high demand. I bought some gifts for friends and family and hope to go back soon.

Ben – thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me and help me around Tema. I look forward to coming back!

Dear Lenders,
Iapologize for not updating you my progress since last year.Actualy i'm doing well with my business,my cow had gave birth to a bull calf which is also in good health.Through you're support,i have manage to complete my course as Plant Operator whereby i can operate Grader very wel.In additional my twince boys had join primary shool.Lenders,you have positively changed my life and my family as wel. Thanks keep doing good to the needy people.

Persiapan pembuatan alat tangkap ikan tradisional ( Bubu )

My name is Kerry Tiedeman and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Kenya. Normally I am stationed in Nairobi, but this week I visited the beautiful coastal town of Mombasa, and that is where I met Esther, a school teacher who owns a small "everything" store.

Esther is a celebrity in Zidisha, because it's a photo of her and her daughter that is the photo on Zidisha's homepage. She told me when I arrived to her shop just outside the town of Mombasa, "See I do exist!"

Esther has had the shop for the last year while continuing to work as a school teacher, which she has been doing for the last 15 years. Esther teaches high school students English language and literature, and was able to meet with me because she is currently on half term. She gets three one month breaks a year. This contributed to why she started the "3 in 1" store that is part MPESA, sells gas, phone credit, and other household items like cooking oil and grains. She said that during these breaks she would even get bored since she is the type of person that enjoys being busy.

With the help of Zidisha lenders the business is doing well and has grown. She has used the loans to purchase gas cylinders, cereals, and other items that have added to her stock. In the beginning she just sold gas.

Esther is originally from upcountry and came to Mombasa 15 years ago once she had graduated University with a teaching job. She had secured a government teaching job, but later found out it meant relocating to the coast. She said she cried, but her mother told her to just go and she would make friends. Well not only did she make friends she met her husband here, who teaches computer classes downtown. They have a daughter, who is also featured on the homepage and an older son. They study at the SOS school in the village of Mombasa. The SOS schools integrate orphans with local kids from the communities. WIth thte school fees from the local families they are able to also pay for the schooling of the orphaned kids. Esther is proud of this set up. She has also worked to teach her kids to appreciate the things they have. She gives them money if they want to buy something at the store she owns, so they understand how much things cost.

Customers kept coming and going while I was there, and when Esther is working at the school, she has one employee tend to the store. The shop is open everyday from 6am - 8pm. 6am because that is when the milkmen arrive. It's a lot of work, but Esther said she is happy and has learned a lot over the course of the year.

Currently she is using hte profits for her business to reinvest and grow the store. She is also paying the school fees of her younger brothers. She has encouraged her sister to join Zidish as well. Her sister now owns a couple of cows upcountry and is doing well. Esther is hoping that one day she will join her upcountry and start a school. It's a dream that would come much later when her children are older, but she sees what possibilities are out there.

I left the store with a bag of cookies, and Esther helped me get a Tuk Tuk to the city where I would meet another borrower. Esther is an educated and bright woman. I am positive she will do incredible things in the future, especially with the help of Zidisha lenders! It was an absolute pleasure to visit her!

My name is Kerry Tiedeman and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Kenya. Normally I am staying in Nairobi, visiting with borrowers, but this week I went to the coastal city of Mombasa and that is where I met Peter, the owner of a hardware store in the town center.

I met Peter by way of his wife, who is also a member of Zidisha. I first visited her salon which is farther north of the city. During our visit, she told me that her husband was also a member and would like to meet me as well. Getting know families is always fun, especially when they are also borrowers, so after our meeting I hopped in a Matatu and headed town, where I met Peter at the central post office. Then we took a Tuk Tuk to his hardware store.

The hardware store, he shares with another entreprenuer who sells shoes. He has had the store for around four years. Before he was selling second hand clothes. Taxes became too high to sell second hand clothes, so Peter began this business venture. He took from his experience working for a man who had a hardware store years before. There he learned about the different types of supplies he would need as well as some plumbing skills. His best selling items currently at his store are plumbing elbows and piping. He says that plumbers will be hired by a landowner by a place where they all sit on the street in downtown. Then they will pass by his shop and pick up the necessary materials.

WIthout Zidisha, Peter says there is no way he would have this store. He has used the loans for supplies and hopes with the next loan he will be able to own a store that he won't have to share in the same area of the city. Peter uses the profits from his business to help out his mother and his family. His father passed away years ago and his mother who lives in Nakuru still depends on him for support.

When I was with Peter, Alice called several times to make sure I made it to his store alright and to invite me back to their home. I wasn't able to, but when Alice called it showed up as "1st Lady" in Peter's phone. I laughed and so did he, though it shows what a family man Peter is, and where is priorties are. In the rare free time he has, he likes to take his wife and daughter, Mary to Fort Jesus (a medieval fortress in town) and the beach. He hopes someday he will return to the countryside where he is from and purchase land.

It was a pleasure to meet Peter and like the incredible guy he is, he called me to make sure I made it back safely to my hostel. Check out the photos from our visit!

I harvested my Potatoes which I had planted in December 2014. The loan which I took enabled me to buy 2bags Fertilizer. and now I am waiting for my 2acre to be ready its already 6weeks old and growing healthy just as seen in the previous photo.

My name is Kerry Tiedeman and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Kenya. I am normally situated in Nairobi, but this week I went to the coastal town of Mombasa and that is where I had the opportunity to meet Alice.

I went outside of the city headed farther North to visit with Alice. She owns a salon in a village of Mombasa. The salon is right off the main road in a building with other stores and a petrol station. Alice welcomed me into the salon and showed off the new equipment that fortunately with Zidisha lenders she was able to buy. Alice has one employee at the store, who when I first came was dying a woman's hair. Alice told me she does everything, pedicures, manicures cuts, colors, but her speciality is braiding. While I was talking to Alice another customer came in, to get a sample braiding. Alice took part of her hair and showed her what several braid patterns would like. I have been eyeying the Kenyan style braids with estensions and have been impressed. I really like the style, so Alice sat me down and did a sample braiding as well with the extension. I don't know if it's a good look for me, but there are some photos so you can be the judge.
Alice has had the salon for 18 months. She rents out the store, but it's quite expensive for the month and the bus fare adds up since she isn't close to her home. Soon, she plans on moving to her village to start up the same salon and find somewhere less expensive.
The atmosphere in the salon is lively with women coming and going to chat about hair, their families and men. When Alice had to go back to work doing some chemcial straightening, I sat and talked with the customers for quite a while. I could have stayed there longer, and may have if I had decided to go with the braids.
Alice hopes that in the future she wiill also go into wholesale with her products and will continue to use Zidisha loans to maintain the equipment and purchase inventory. She uses the profits from her business to support her young daughter, Mary who is ten years old. Mary also enjoys spending time in the salon, where she is lucky enough to always have her mom, the expert braider, do her hair. Alice was incredibly sweet and it was wonderful to visit her shop.

My dear wife Shillah and the children Abigael and James (with me in the picture) are doing doing very well. We yesterday on Sunday to them to camel riding where they also enjoyed ice-cream in the hot sun as we live close to the Equator. It is very hot during day time. These are all the fruit we get from branches of the Zidisha tree that has been extended to this part of our world. Thanks. Simeon Kisuya

Currently i am at a position to increase my repayment installments due to a steady increase in my daily income. My colored printer has proved to be quite fruitful to my business thanks to the loan i took which helped me buy the printer.

GOOD BUSINESS,

I am grateful for the funding which has enables my business to grow.

This makes me able to raise a happy family.

Here is my daughter and my wife.

The photo is taken outside with the mid-morning sun of Kenya shining and getting hotter.

Retailing of fertilizer to farmers who cannot buy a full bag. This is what I call work and happiness. Thank you lenders for your support

Hi Zidisha Team and fellow members,
Am very happy to let you know that very early in the morning of today ,01/03/2015 at around 05:47 A.M i received a message from Zidisha confirming that the cash has been deposited in my Mpesa account,without wasting time i woke up and after preparing my self i headed to Marikiti market to increase my cereals stock,i expect sales to increase since my business is now fully stocked,thank Zidisha.

Hi all, I have made my second repayment and still waiting for Zidisha team to publish it.

My stall is running well with pasta fusilli and toast as the best seller.

saya ingin melanjutkan pendidikan jurusan komunikasi,sesuai dengan bakat dan minat saya.terlebih lagi saya suka sekali memotivasi teman-teman,kerabat kerja dalam berbagai hal.dengan membaca buku-buku motovasi,saya jadi semakin percaya diri untuk melanjutkan pendidikan didunia komunikasi.bagi saya komunikasi adalah dunia saya,jurnalistik,penyiar radio,pembawa acara bahkan presenter pernah saya jajaki.dan saya berharap,banyak pihak yang mendukung saya.dan saya juga pernah jadi duta cagar biosfer prov.riau,berikut saya lampirkan fotonya.saya sangat ingin cepat-cepat selesai kuliah,agar orangtua saya bangga.meskipun harus membayar uang kulaih sendiri,saya terus berharap dan berusaha agar saya tetap bisa melanjutkan pendidikan lebih tinggi lagi.semangat!

Am glad all has worked out well. i had to work hard extending my work hours from 08:00hrs to 18:00hrs to 06:00hrs to 21:00hrs. i realised i have alot of customers too from 19:00hrs to 20:30hrs. this has made me be prompt on my installments.

I get time too to study in the Magaret Thatcher library in campus. finish any assignments in time and time to be in my shop. it requires hardwork and determination.

I thank you Derrick Fairchild and McJulio for your helping hand.

My name is Kerry and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Kenya. I have been stationed in Nairobi and meeting borrowers there, but for the week I've decided to leave the capital city and head to the most important coastal city of Kenya, Mombasa. That is where I met Ivy, a young mother who specializes in selling uniforms to schools.
Ivy just gave birth to a beautiful boy three weeks ago. He was born about three weeks premmature, so when I visited Ivy she had only recently left the hospital. She said that bay Aiden could practically fit in her one hand. Now he's healty and growing fast. I was invited into her home that she shares with her mother and brother, who have both been a big help, especially since her boyfriend works in Nairobi to help support the family. She is taking a small hiatus from her business or a maternity leave, but she sat down to talk to me about how it began.
Ivy is only 22 years old and after secondary school, she began selling used clothes.It was challenging sine when you purchased inventory all you knew about the clothes before buying them was what type of article of clothing it was. They came in large bails labeled "shirts" or "trousers" and you could only see the contents after purchasing. Ivy performed well though, and with the help of Zidisha she was able to purchase the bail. The shirts that didn't sell she sold to an Aunt in the village, and with the profits was able to rent a cabana for a business location.
Ivy's mother was the one to inroduce her to Zdisha. She has had a salon in downtown Mombasa for many years. She came to the house to meet me and generously bought Fanta for the occassion. She is very well dressed and is beaming from being a proud grandmother.
With the second loan Ivy decided to branch out into selling school uniforms. She began approaching private schools and securing small contracts to provide the school uniforms for the year. I asked her how she did this, and she told me "you have to be confident." After securing contracts, Ivy then goes to a trusted local tailor to make the uniforms. With the profits she has reinvested in the business and helping to pay the medical and other costs of having a new born. Ivy is optimistic and hopes that within about three months she will be at it again, when the baby is slightly older. After getting to now her, I have complete faith that this business will expand and she had her young family will do well. She has a great support netowrk with her mother an brother. I'm looking forward to following Ivy, especially since we are now friends on facebook!

Hi Zidisha team,let me take this time to thank you all for the loan you gave.I must say that the money that you lend has got a greate impact in my life,my family and the society at large.my daily earning has been increased because I used the loan fund to purchase some lamps and the venders were happy to see some new lamps.these are the pictures of the lamps I bought and asmall video captured during the day when the lamps are beeing charged with the sun,by blinking of the lamp means it is taking charge.thank you again.

Hi, I am Aissatou Traore a member of zidisha comminuty since 2010. I work entreprenarialship whith a American company whose name is FOREVER LIVING PRODUCTS and I am happy in my business. I help many people to achieve theirs dreams. In 2014 I build a house for my mother in my region because this is my promess whith my loan of zidisha and I work very hard to realize this dream. It is one part of my life

Apart from paying my installments in time i have been in a position to clear my tuition fees for my First semester yesturday. Am now sure i will sit for my exams in April without a problem.

as for my second semester fees i have raised a quarter of the amount it will run from May to August. Am happy Zidisha has helped me by increasing sales volume through the inventory i added. my profits have also grown.

Am hoping to clear my last installment in time so that i may borrow another loan and from the proceeds generate my remaining fee for my second semester by May God willing.

A special thanks to my lenders.

Thank you

I used the previous loan to till a small piece of land I was allocated at home and planted a few cash crops which did fairly well despite the less rainfall.
The produce from the farm has helped me lease a small piece of land from the neighbor and I also supplied a nearby children's home with food.
Over time my earnings have increased from 100 $ a month to around 250 $ a month.
I have also been able to employ two young energetic boys who help me run the game center and during farming. Both of them work for me full time.
During my free time I happen to go to scout camps and a times visit the children's home and play with the kids there,they are amazing young people.
With the help of anew loan,I will settle off the remaining amount for leasing land and start cultivating it as soon as dark clouds are up the sky.
Thank you Zidisha.

this is the grace zidisha showered my business with

I am very happy to inform and appreciate all lenders for the good idea and wise thoughts of coming with these community loan. Through the previous loan have managed to create eight employment opportunities whereby two are casuals and four are permanent, two on contract basis, however, have managed to increase the weekly selling, meet customers demand, operate the shop efficiently, purchase some stock(chemicals) and lower the selling prices for our products to meet the market competition and reduce the costs of production and distribution, buying one motorbike for distributions and my profit and savings are positively increased, good.

lots of thanks to my beautiful lenders am half way funded and happy.

I am very greatful to my lenders, I invested the money into my food shop.
My trading capital is up, the stock is also up now neighbors can get whatever they need.
My family are so happy

My photo in studio

Hi Mathews,
Its fantastic that you are undergoing training, you can never know too much about business.
Next thing is to think about how to raise the profit by 10%, then 15%...
For the support, Karibu Sana!
Regards
Michael.

Dear Lender, (Hope?)

After meeting with a few of his roommates, I had the chance to sit down with Isaac last week in Legon at his residence hall near the University of Ghana. Public universities in Ghana are highly competitive and only admit students at the top of their class, academically and need or merit-based scholarship opportunities are limited or virtually nonexistent for would-be students. So he may be too modest to tell you but just being admitted and self-financing his education is evidence of Isaac’s drive.

Although his parents have been very supportive of his journey, Isaac didn’t have access to computers at home. The middle child of three, his mother sells provisions on the street and his father owns a bicycle repair shop. Growing up, his family couldn’t afford much in the way of technology. Isaac was first introduced to computers in school. But he made up for lost time by making the computer lab his second home – the instructors would teach him in off hours and let him practice taking apart and repairing the machines. Now, he says, “Computers are my passion… my calling.”

Isaac used his first Zidisha loan to pay housing fees at the residence hall. During his first semester commuting to classes from his parents’ home, he would often find himself in traffic for up to two hours in each direction, causing stress over being late to class or work, losing valuable study time, and preventing him from taking part in extracurricular activities. Since receiving his Zidisha loan, he moved into an airy dorm with three roommates (also Zidisha borrowers) and is just a short walk from class. Jean Nelson Hall consists of four stories of rooms surrounding a sunny rectangular courtyard with a basketball court and outdoor café. Residence halls make up their own small communities - each have unique personalities and rivalries and compete against each other in intramural sports. When I visit, students are reading and hanging their laundry to dry in the sun.

With three years left to finish his degree, Isaac wants to focus on his education while he has the chance – soaking up as many technical skills and programming languages as he can. He’s interested in programming and database management and dreams of a job at Microsoft. He hopes to use future Zidisha loans to continue to pay his school fees and to buy a faster computer that can handle his heavy use.

It was wonderful to get to meet Isaac and see his residence hall – all that talk about classes and student life made me want to go back to university! He is incredibly grateful for the support he has received through Zidisha and he is excited to continue his education.

Isaac – thank you so much for taking the time in between lectures and work to chat with me. We wish you the best with your schooling and career!

Thank you,

Taylor
Ghana Country Ambassador
Zidisha

Hi Michael,
Am still soldering on with the business and am seeing good progress,i managed to get 10 dollars-830 KES profit this week and this translated to increase of the profit by 5%, am planning to undergo atraining in accounts and finance skills to enable me get acquinted to cash management in the business for future prosperity.
Thank you once again for your continued support.

Dear lenders,

The pictures below are not so clear because i have taken them with my phone camera which is not that clear but they can show my progress thus far on breeding broilers. These are my chicks which i intend to feed for the next 6 months for them to gain good weight for better sales.

Thanks in advance for your kind contributions to my loan.

After getting my first loan of 50dollars, i bought a number of plastic chairs and ensured that my clients were well sited and have enough space.

At the market selling my lessos and womens bras and material.

My loan was very successful thank you to all zidisha lenders.As i had budgeted for my loan i managed to purchase extra trays which improved my weekly profit by an extra $60.This has boosted confidence to the customers and lowered my out of stock costs.The earnings i acquired helped me to pay my university 1st installment fee which was due last month.I have also inspired my friends by opening and sustaining a new branch thanks to zidisha.I also have created a permanent employment for the young lady and young man in Mtwapa.I can now manage to take my family once atleast once a month.

With the loan I was able to get a HP 1510 deskjet which I have already started using at my business and it generating an extra income as am now typing and printing projects for university students who are in their final year and also doing some photocopies beside repairing laptops at my shop.I really do appreciate the lenders for this and pray for God's blessings upon them all.

HAPPY MOMENTS: BENEFIT TO OTHERS

One of the sheep we had for the Christmas last year.
It was great indeed.

Dear Lender,
Thanks alot for your support,this is a result of your top up.Timely delivery of the eggs and an increased purchase order.We always say in our language,Asante Sana(Thank you very much).

My name is Kerry Tiedeman and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Kenya. Normally I am staying and visiting borrowers in Nairobi, however this week I am Mombasa, Kenya to visit some of our borrowers in this vibrant coastal city.

Today I had the opportunity of meeting with John Bosco, a first time borrower of Zidisha, who is working on fundraising for his first loan. John actually has strong ties to Nairobi. He went to University there where he studied business, and also where he met his friend and the manufacturer of men's shoes he purchases and later sells in Mombasa.

I met John with his volunteer mentor, Margaret Julliet. The three of us met over coffee, fanta and mango juice at a local cafe in the center of town. John works as a Microfinance field officer here in Mombasa. He worked his way up by first working at an MPESA shop (the phone money transfer service) and later as an insurance agent in Nairobi, until finding this opportunity in Mombasa. John is pleased with his progress in business, but would like to be his own boss and have the freedom to run his own business full time.

When John moved to Mombasa, he discovered that the quality of shoes were not as high as they were in Nairobi. He told me that the shoes you buy here would only last you five months. Having connections in Nairobi, he started transporting better made shoes from Nairobi to Mombasa via bus. He was able to sell the shoes in a nearby computer store. John would go in to fix his laptop and began chatting with the owner. Together they went in business together with half of the shop dedicated to computers and the other selling shoes. John's partner tends the store while he is at work during the day with the Microfinance bank.

John is asking for a loan to help stock inventory for his shoe business. He would like to begin to stock children's shoes. He says that the loans at his bank have a much higher interest rate than Zidisha, and he also does not have the assets to secure the loan. He hopes that with more profits by branching into children's shoes, he will be able to help with tuition fees for his cousin at the same University where he studied. He would also like to help out his family in Kitale, upcountry. He is the only boy of four children. When I asked him what about ladies shoes for his sisters, he told me that with the help of Zidisha, that will be the next venture!

Check out some photos from our visit!

Below are the 2 computers that I bought. One is a HP core 2 duo 3.1 ghz 4gb RAM which will be used specifically for SKYPE , another is a siemens dual core 3.0ghz 2gb RAM. More Pictures to follow.

At the farm

Thanks to you guys the printers has enabled my bussines s to move me to another level thanks for profit it has generated,for i have completed my college where i was taking a degree in theology . And my children are also doing fine that everybody in my family is happy. iwill sent the photos for graduation as soon as they are ready for you to see. thanks to zidisha.

Quelques réalisations effectués dans mon atelier.
Some production done in my workshop.

Translated by     Show original

Quelques réalisations effectués dans mon atelier.

This is my knitting work.

Hello lenders,This is my new cosmetic shop.

thank you zidisha team and my lenders for your support.my business still moving on well.i hope my sales will continue becoming more better since we are still on form one, first term school admission.

thanks
Dorcas

Gate City Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Indonesia

the shop

Before i started making this items i had made a carpet and i short on the orange wool. I managed to buy when you sent the loan and i will be finishing it by friday

I am also started working on the carpet using the green wool and the tapestry