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The latest updates from projects made possible by our global community.
RobertR
Robert  ·  Ruiru..kwa Kairu, Kenya
Feb 27, 2015
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.comment image
B
Beatrice  ·  Bungoma Town, Kenya
Feb 27, 2015
At the market selling my lessos and womens bras and material.comment imagecomment image
PeterP
Peter  ·  Thika, Kenya
Feb 27, 2015
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.
KenethK
Keneth  ·  Chuka, Kenya
Feb 26, 2015
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.
RaphaelR
Raphael  ·  Nairobi Kasarani, Kenya
Feb 26, 2015
HAPPY MOMENTS: BENEFIT TO OTHERS One of the sheep we had for the Christmas last year. It was great indeed.comment imagecomment image
ChrisC
Chris  ·  Naivasha, Kenya
Feb 26, 2015
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).comment image
K
Kerry Tiedeman  ·  United States
Feb 26, 2015
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!comment imagecomment imagecomment image
EmmanuelE
Emmanuel  ·  Nairobi, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
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.comment image
LukeL
Luke  ·  Thika, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
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.
AbdoulayeA
Abdoulaye  ·  Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Feb 25, 2015
Quelques réalisations effectués dans mon atelier. Some production done in my workshop.comment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment image
EstherE
Esther  ·  Kimende, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
This is my knitting work.comment image
EstherE
Esther  ·  Kimende, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
Hello lenders,This is my new cosmetic shop.comment imagecomment image
DorcasD
Dorcas  ·  Kimende, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
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 Dorcascomment image
RahmaidaR
Rahmaida  ·  Kota Kendari, Sulawesi Tenggara, Indonesia
Feb 25, 2015
Gate City Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Indonesiacomment image
LillianL
Lillian  ·  Nyanchwa Kisii, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
the shopcomment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment image
JudithJ
Judith  ·  Bungoma, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
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 fridaycomment image
JudithJ
Judith  ·  Bungoma, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
I am also started working on the carpet using the green wool and the tapestrycomment image
JudithJ
Judith  ·  Bungoma, Kenya
Feb 25, 2015
It is cloudy today. I am working on a few items. I started a grey poncho with the circular needle i bought (No. 6mm)comment image
SigitS
Sigit  ·  Babakan Madang Sentul City Bogor, Indonesia
Feb 25, 2015
New update regarding the micro business that managed by my self. Today I have join to make agreement with Hygienic Fish Market (PIH) under Department of Indonesian Marine And Fish to producing large scale milkfish or Bandeng Presto and various fish processed products. Because purchase order from my agent had overload, so I can't handle on this anymore. Currently I have #11 agent and a few reseller. Here the pictures of equipment also new production place.comment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment image
RachmadR
Rachmad  ·  Surabaya, Indonesia
Feb 24, 2015
My boy age 3 month I am grateful to the Lenders and Zidisha team with confidence on its loan business success and I can buy my boy needs Regardscomment image
SaffaraS
Saffara  ·  Kabupaten Bantaeng Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia
Feb 24, 2015
Increase the number of cans and gas cylinders to increase revenuecomment image
RonaldR
Ronald  ·  Magaoni, Kenya
Feb 24, 2015
this the picture of my new bike, will send better pictures as soon as i get everything in order. thanks guys for your patience and prayers thanks allot GOD BLESS.comment imagecomment image
JoshuaJ
Joshua  ·  Kisii County, Kenya
Feb 24, 2015
Hi lenders. Today i received a call from a school. Am required to take passport photos for new students tomorrow and with the camera i brought am hoping to do a nice work. Thanks once again for creating this opportunity for people like us. regards Joshua
F
Fredrick  ·  Bungoma, Kenya
Feb 24, 2015
Finally i got some photos.My barbershop is in the middle of a busy market known as Chepkube and surrounded by different vendors.You can see photos of the items i bought to help me in my work,two blowdryers and a Wahl clipper(the other one was being used). On this day i had hired a lady to help me.comment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment image
AgusA
Agus  ·  Kabupaten Bantaeng, Indonesia
Feb 24, 2015
Direktur Zidhisa saat mengunjungi Toko Alifha & Alifha Cell ( warnet Alifha), foto bersama dengan istri saya di toko.comment image
EstherE
Esther  ·  Nakuru, Kenya
Feb 24, 2015
Thank you very much my generous lenders. The loan you gave last time has really made a big difference in my business, life and community in general. Now that i bought a portable laptop i have been able to access my clients job wherever i am. sometimes a client needs his/ her job and maybe im not around the town nor in the business or they want us to discuss something, i just pull out my laptop and we discuss hence making it easy. Secondly, most of the time i assign work to my employees because maybe im out of town for an assignment of my work place, they are able to send me what they have achieved or the job they have been working for and then i check on it, do corrections and as well deliver the job in time.For instance, whatever i produced in six months last year ,i have already made it in two months, this has really encouraged me. I have been able to pay atleast three quarter of my school fees this semester, so im not worried about school fees till next semester. Ever i have experienced easy Month of January after a very long holiday and everybody was broke except people who brought me business but im very sure is because they dont want to be left out in the graduation list....hahahahacomment image
AgusA
Agus  ·  Kabupaten Bantaeng, Indonesia
Feb 24, 2015
Toko Alifha dan Alifha Cellcomment image
FredrickF
Fredrick  ·  Nairobi Embakasi, Kenya
Feb 24, 2015
these are my chicken at their feeding areacomment image
Taylor HannaT
Taylor Hanna  ·  United States
Feb 23, 2015
Dear Lenders, I was lucky to get to meet Muhaimin last week at his residence hall near the University of Ghana in Accra, as his lecture schedule lined up with my visit. Originally from Ghana’s upper west region, relocating in his youth to the Volta region (in eastern Ghana), and now living in Accra, Muhaimin has been all over the country. He heard about Zidisha from his roommate, Gideon, and was excited at the opportunity to assist with his school fees. Even though tuition itself is paid for at Ghana’s few highly competitive public universities, students must pay significant academic and residential fees upfront and student loans are difficult to obtain. Muhaimin’s ultimate goal is to work in criminal law at the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Ghana’s internal intelligence agency. Right now he is finishing up his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in geography, after which he hopes to get a law degree. Until then, he’s enjoying studying, life on campus, and playing basketball for the university. He’s incredibly grateful for the support of his Zidisha lenders and hopes to continue to use Zidisha loans to help fulfill his career dreams. We are excited to see where it takes him! Thank you, Taylor Ghana Country Ambassador Zidishacomment image
NicodemusN
Nicodemus  ·  Mtwapa, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
Hi my lenders. Today I visited Mr.Amos shutu who is also a beneficiary if Zidisha.. He has really encouraged to continue with the businesses and paying on time to meet the requirement of growing up.attached is photo taken at his shopcomment image
K
Kerry Tiedeman  ·  United States
Feb 23, 2015
My name is Kerry and I'm a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Nairobi, Kenya. Today I had the opportunity to meet with Jared Mokaya, a fairly new member of Zidisha at the Dorman's factory, where he works as a salesperson. Jared, has been with Dorman's, a coffee roasting company, for a long time. He moved from his town of Yanza to Nairobi years ago, but then was transferred to Mombasa, on the coast. He was living there for seven years working for Dorman's, and was only transfered back to Nairobi five months ago. For him this was a great move, it meant a promotion to a more senior position in the company, and since it is in Nairobi, he is closer to his village (Mombasa is a ten hour bus ride from Nairobi) where there are more opportunities for starting his own business. Jared found Zidisha through his coworker, Lawrence, another borrower, who I also visited while I was at the factory. Jared was very excited because with the help of Zidisha lenders he had purchased two cows and two goats, which are being taken care of by his father in Yanza. The cows are milking cows and with the milk they produce, Jared is able to sell it to a boarding school nearby. He is also able to use the goat to sell as meat for the boarding school as well. Jared hopes with the profits of this business he will be able to purchase more cows and more goats and expand. Then he says, the business can help him take care of the school fees of his two children. He is about to finish paying his Zidisha loan, and very excited to apply for another one. We also talked a little about Mombasa, since I'm headed there tomorrow. Jared was extremely helpful in offering to try and help me find a taxi driver from the airport. He also gave me a pound of coffee as a gift. I asked both Jared and Lawrence that if working at a coffee factory meant they loved coffee as much as I do. Jared told me he used to drink four cups just in the morning and trained as a barista for fun, but now the coffee was giving him ulcers. I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that!comment imagecomment image
K
Kerry Tiedeman  ·  United States
Feb 23, 2015
My name is Kerry and I am a Client Relationship Intern for ZIdisha in Nairobi, Kenya. Today I had the opportunity to meet with Lawrence Mademba at his place of work in the industrial part of Nairobi. I was particularly excited, because although Lawrence's company works with aquaculture, I met him at his day job, Dorman's factory, that produces coffee. I love coffee, so when Lawrence offered me a latte, I couldn't say yes fast enough. As we sat drinking coffee, Lawrence told me how at Dorman's he works in quality control, but is very excited about the fishing ponds he has constructed, about six hours from Nairobi. Like many inhabitants of Nairobi, Lawrence is not originally from here. He was born in a village of Kisumu. When he moved to Nairobi, he started off working for Dorman's, but three years into the job found African Heritage. This association has a gallery in Nairobi, and Lawrence worked for them for seven years, painting, which he still does in his free time. When the economy took a downward turn in the mid 1990's, Lawrence returned to his job at Dorman's. A man with his ambition, he kept looking for potential business opportunities, and in the early part of this decade he saw that the government was encouraging fish farming. Being from Kisumu, fishing is a part of life, however Lawrence had little experience. Lawrence is thoughtful and very clever. Talking with him it's not surprising that he has taken this opportunity and gone from beginner in a field he barely knew to an expert. He told me how the feed for the fish was quite expensive, however with a little research he has discovered that the waste of chickens will feed the fish. Therefore he plans on purchasing some chickens, and not only will he use them for the aquaculture, but also sell their eggs. Lawrence is looking forward to his very first harvest in April from the first of his three ponds. It takes 7-8 months to harvest the fish, so this has been a long time coming. He is excited for the possibilities, and hopes that he with his profits, this will help him grow to a total of ten ponds. Right now his father tends to the farm, which Lawrence purposely set up in order for his father to be occupied in his retirement. However, Lawrence hopes to hire more employees as well as inspire his neighbors. So far three neighbors have also started up fish farms. He also wants to encourage thoughtful farming that is not harmful to the environment. He wants to create a program of planting trees and reintroducing wildlife to his village. Lawrence and I chatted for about three hours. Lawrence sang for me, told me about his wife in children, and when I told him I was California, he said how much he loved Chuck Norris. I then had to tell all of the Chuck Norris jokes I could think of. He also encouraged me with my business ideas as well. I look forward to the next time we meet.comment imagecomment image
SusanS
Susan  ·  Nyambari Lari, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
front display of my shoe businesscomment image
DuloD
Dulo  ·  Muhoroni, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
baby class academic trip (domestic animals lesson) in my school,i ensure that kids are exposed to all possible relevant learning opportunities available to us.comment imagecomment imagecomment image
DuloD
Dulo  ·  Muhoroni, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
pupils during academic tour at lake victoria - kenya.comment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment image
DuloD
Dulo  ·  Muhoroni, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
our introductory class pupils graduate as they joined class one (primary one) January this year (2015)comment image
AliceA
Alice  ·  Nairobi, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
Hello to you all my lenders! I thank you very much for your loan which has helped me improve my medicine stock.I bought syrups , tablets and injectable medicines and now i can treat my patients well and my income has also increased .The earnings i have used to repay my loan and my family now is a very happy one.Thanks and may God bless you!
KevinK
Kevin  ·  Nakuru, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
Dear lenders, It's such a great honor to inform you that my first loan from Zidisha really changed my poultry business in a very positive way and uplifted my living standard. I am proud to say that in December 2014 i managed to sell over 50 well fed broilers at a price of $10 each (Ksh 950) , and i also sold 40 ordinary chicken for $5 each due to the high demand over the festive season. I used some of the profit ($50)to complete repaying my first Zidisha loan, and the rest to cater for my basic needs and buy more chicks and feeds for my poultry business.
Moses OngeriM
Moses Ongeri  ·  Kawangware46, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
I want to thank my lenders for supporting my business. I purchased one equipment that is helping my business a lot. i replaced another meat mincer which had broken down. the purchase has made my business easier to operate. The earnings have increased to 2%, it can be more unfortunately the business has been slow due to the January period, but things will be well. Please Check out my new mincer that i bought with the money from zidisha..comment image
RahmaidaR
Rahmaida  ·  Kota Kendari, Sulawesi Tenggara, Indonesia
Feb 23, 2015
Type bag schoolboy I sellcomment imagecomment image
Gladys NyawiraG
Gladys Nyawira  ·  Nairobi, Kenya
Feb 23, 2015
Dear Lenders, I would like to thank you so very much for believing in me and my project. For sure your funding has enabled me to expand my chicken project up to 20 pullets having 200 pullets in total now. In two months time i will start collecting eggs, at least 5 trays a day and i am overwhelmed by the many orders that i am receiving already; people booking the eggs. In future i am planning to expand the coop and keep a larger number of pullets plus i am also planning to venture into broiler chicken farming in order to meet the market demand. Your help and your support has made me a happy farmer. You are surely making my dreams "Young Successful Farmer" come true . Abundant Blessings on you.comment imagecomment image
IsaiahI
Isaiah  ·  Nairobi, Kenya
Feb 22, 2015
Hallo Lenders und Zidisha Team , Der Architekt hat bereits ausgelieferten die erste draft.Please siehe beigefügte . Grüße Isaiah Githaiga
IsaiahI
Isaiah  ·  Nairobi, Kenya
Feb 22, 2015
Hi Lenders, Here are the photos of the Items I purchased for our business with proceeds from the last loan. Regards Isaiah Githaigacomment imagecomment image
BramwelB
Bramwel  ·  Sendera, Kenya
Feb 22, 2015
I managed to buy a good dairy cow that i have assesed with the help of a vetinarian and under good management she can produce upto 7 liters of milk a day. she is a good breeder cow.Just what i needed to start my dairy farming. I call her ZIDISHA.comment image
EndangE
Endang  ·  Kabupaten Bantaeng Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia
Feb 22, 2015
This stall for a living place for the needs of family lifecomment image
A
Abd  ·  Kabupaten Jeneponto, Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia
Feb 21, 2015
Seaweed is one of the largest commodity in my area that Jeneponto, seaweed has many benefits, for this seaweed is still managed by members of my group are traditionally so that the quality of seaweed is still far from complete, I am always committed to compete with producers of grass Other sea, one of the factors or constraints faced by groups of seaweed farmers is the lack of adequate equipment and even the government has not been able to contribute material for local government budget is very limited. Representation of seaweed farmer has not received serious attention from the government, for which I am always looking for a solution to be able to strive together in a group increases yield and capable of producing quality and quality seaweed. Through loans from Zidhisa I hope to be able to compete and can provide modern equipmentcomment imagecomment image
YunitaY
Yunita  ·  Kabupaten Bantaeng,sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia
Feb 21, 2015
My mother's daily activities - the central market selling groceries Bantaengcomment image
YunitaY
Yunita  ·  Kabupaten Bantaeng,sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia
Feb 21, 2015
Hi. Funders and zidhisa, I am glad to have joined this community, hopefully with these loans can provide the first experience for me as only parents who always help complete goods in stores and pay for my education, I hope I do not end semerter longer burden the old because I want to focus my efforts at home. Me and my sistercomment image
K
Kerry Tiedeman  ·  United States
Feb 21, 2015
My name is Kerry and I am a Client Relationship Intern for Zidisha in Nairobi, Kenya. Yesterday I had the opportunity of meeting Jannet Kanini in Ongata Rongai, a neighborhood of Nairobi. Jannet owns a store that sells all sorts of clothing items as well as fruit. Her ultimate goal is to have a store with so much inventory, there's no need to go anywhere else. Immediately upon meeting her, you can tell she is a clever and well respected woman in the community. When I first arrived, she was meeting with friends and neighbors to offer them advice. Jannet began her business in March of 2012 when she received her first loan from Zidisha to increase the inventory of her store. She began with ladies undergarments and has expanded into almost everything else. Before opening her business, Jannet worked at Beacon, a center for those suffering from HIV in the neighborhood. She told me that she chose to quit the center to start the business because she felt a need to explore and think outside the box, which was too difficult to do after 8 hours a day at her job. Jannet and I easily fell into a convesration of local foods, music, and customs. A lady came by to sell her a Mukimo, which looks like a green tamale, but in fact is a type of puree with potato, corn and local greens. She bought one and offered me one. When I told her I was in the mood for Chapati, a type of pancake that they eat here with stew, she ran out to ask the hotel nearby if they had some. We sat and ate our lunches together, and when I asked what she did in her spare time, she told me she sang for her church choir, where her husband is the pastor. I was fortunate enough that she sang for me, first in English and then Swahili. What a beautiful voice! Jannet says that her other ambition is to create a CD, which is currently in the works. I told her I would be the first to buy one. We sat for a while longer like that exchanging stories, talking about her children (she has two) who when they were younger, Jannet used to take them to the Nairobi National Park. She said it was a day to have a picnic, relax, and answer the questions of small children. Well, Jannet I think you are a woman with most of the answers.comment imagecomment image
K
Kerry Tiedeman  ·  United States
Feb 21, 2015
My name is Kerry and I am a Client Relationship Intern in Nairobi, Kenya. Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Jane Wamuyu in Ongata Rongai at her clothing store and salon about 20 kilometers from Nairobi Central. Jane has been a member for Zidisha for three years now. WIth loans from Zidisha lenders she purchased the shop in 2012, and uses loans now to stock the store's inventory. Jane has also employed a friend of her's, Nancy, who helps with washing and styling hair. When I met Jane, Nancy was also there and we sat down to talk about the store and their lives here in Nairobi. Jane came to Nairobi in 2004 with her husband from Nyeri, a city in northern Kenya. Her husband sells building materials and also borrows from Zidisha. While he was working, she decided she wanted to open her own business. She had always braided her friends' hair when she was a young girl, and loved clothes, so logically it made sense to open a salon/clothing store. Now she has had the store for three years, and is very proud of it. Jane is also a great saleswomen. I almost left the store with three t-shirts and a pair of leggings. She says that trousers are her best selling item. She goes to the market downtown twice a week to buy clothes to stock her store. She is a great location, right on the main road of the neighborhood of Ongata Rongai, where many people pass by multiple times a day. In her free time Jane likes to swim at Multimedia Unvierstiy of Kenya, just down the road. As a child she grew up with her six sisters swimming on the Tana River. Having six sisters also contributed to her love of clothes. THey had to share their clothes, but they were also able to pick from six wardrobes. Jane's parents are still in Nyeri where they own a coffee farm. Jane spent much of her child picking the red berries off the bushes during harvest. She had a very different life in Nairobi. Jane hopes to expand the inventory of her store with help from Zidisha. She uses the profits to pay for her two daughters' schooling as well as monthly expenses. With a well kept store and an employee, she has really made something for herself as a transplant in Nairobi.comment imagecomment imagecomment imagecomment image

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