Zidisha | Project Updates

Margaret · Mombasa, Kenya

Jul 17, 2015

You will notice that the photos attached are for mkunde (bean plant) and not amaranthus. I had planned to plant amaranthus (mchicha). I actually planted almost 4 times different sections of the farm but it refused to germinate. So I decided to plant mkunde which is doing pretty good. The pics you are seeing now are for 1 and 1/2 months mkunde. If you visit the farm now there is no where to step. I am so grateful to God and to the Zidisha family.

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Margaret · Mombasa, Kenya

Jul 17, 2015

More vegetable photos. comment image

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Joseph · Nsawkaw, Ghana

Jul 16, 2015

I can now study more with the aid of my medical reference books. no more hectic times when I really need to get clarifications on what treatment to give to my client, I only need to refer from my books when I'm in doubt, no guess work! I can now give a holistic care to my clients more thanks to all my lenders

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Patricia · Ab 22 Phobia Spot, Ofankor, Ghana

Jul 16, 2015

Dear Lenders; Please I am very graceful for the opportunity given me I wish to promise my Lenders I will fulfill my weekly contribution and the loan repayment . Thank you may God blesses you. comment image

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Lilian · Nakuru, Kenya

Jul 16, 2015

I would like to sincerely thank the lenders, I have enrolled for my computer classes. The classes will commence on this coming Monday. Am so excited and thrilled about it my upcoming computer classes. Once again thank you and be blessed.

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Morisi · Nyansiongo, Kenya

Jul 16, 2015

Dear lenders, I even don’t know how I can express myself in words. I’m really happy when I see your souls concerned with my plans. Assisting- something that is absolutely rare in Kenya today. I’m really glad, thankful and and equally happy. The loan, as I had stated earlier, it has reached a state where I’m not the only one benefiting but my family and now I’ll add one person to make my operations and daily activates run smoothly. As far as my business is concerned, I will add stock, bring more modernity to the business and also actually find more room for expansion. If you let me share my vision, I am dreaming to have two more business in other towns where I have identified the gap. But before reaching there, I must manage this first but I see brighter future on my way. Thank you and god bless.

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Justin · Ruiru, Kenya

Jul 16, 2015

Am so grateful for the loan i have just cleared ,because a can see my stock as grown by $90 and my profit has grown to $55.55 every week, am so grateful to the lender because i have also cleared this term fees for my sister. I look forward to have another loan in future to improve more on my cloth business and to improve my family living standard. Thank you so much God bless you

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Samuel · Mazeras, Kenya, Kenya

Jul 15, 2015

You're welcome. The world is showing their support to Kenya and I am appreciating. At least in your hemisphere you have seasons. In Kenya, I can hardly tell winter from autumn. The changes are small. Welfare in Kenya isn't the best. Unemployed people do not access any funds for basics. However, the entrepreneurial spirit is keeping many people with just enough money to live by. No holidays or expensive gadgets. Maybe once we have fixed our politics then the cake will become big enough for everyone. I can't blame the Australians. Everyone wants to live like Kardashians -care free. ;-) Thanks, Shehi.

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Julfa · Mathare North, Kenya

Jul 15, 2015

I have received my loan if $100. Thank you very much Zidisha, and Zidisha lenders. You have enabled me to be able to buy solar lighting for my small business.

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Peter · Miti Mingi, Kenya

Jul 15, 2015

This is to thank zidisha team for the loan,it helped me very much for i added stock at my shop and thus gaining more profit i.e from 30%to 45%. I used the profit to pay some of my daughter's school fees. Live long zidisha team!

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Stephen · Adansi Fumso, Ghana

Jul 15, 2015

Thank you zidisha.org my business is still growing and am very grateful to you all. I have been able to buy 3 R14 tires and 1 R20 tire. Thank you all. comment image

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Diana · Kendu Bay, Kenya

Jul 14, 2015

This is to thank the zidisha team, i used the loan to purchase the new fashioned clothes and i was able to purchase them again during the time i was working with the loan i was given. The loan made me to retain my customers and they really liked my clothes. I was also able to take my firs born daughter to private school where she should get the best foundation. The loan made my monthly income to increase from 40% to 70% and that made my family very happy .

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James · Gilgil Kenya, Kenya

Jul 14, 2015

i take this opportunity to thank the whole of Zidisha lenders and also Zidisha team for having offered me the opportunity to expand my article writing business. It really helped me alot and i was even able to recruit one person whom i taught how to write articles and he is now earning some income from it. The moderm i bought also gave me an opportunity to enroll on online education whereby am now learning online. All this happened through the help of Zidisha lenders whom assisted me alot. I am now on a missing to recruit three more youths whom i will teach how to write articles online ...THANK YOU ALOT

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Beatrice · Kisumu, Kenya

Jul 14, 2015

It my sincere appreciation for the loan of $ 97.66 i got from my lenders. Many thanks to you all and may God grant you grace and his mercies to continue with the spirit to help young entrepreneurs like me to boost their businesses. The loan you gave me will enable me to buy office stationary i.e Photocopy papers $4.98, cartridges $17.9433,pens $2.4, pencils $3.59, exercise books $19.92 to boost the sale. The remaining amount i will clear school fees for my son. THANKS ALOT.

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Stephen · Nakuru, Kenya

Jul 14, 2015

Hello Zidisha team. Your funds helped me to stabilize my business of cybercafe i was able to be ahead of my competitors. i was able to buy new computers and renovate my place. as shown in the picture comment image

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Rosemary · Banana Hills, Kenya

Jul 14, 2015

I received KES 31,855 yesterday. I am thrilled by your support. I will now go ahead and get the embroidery machine that I so much need in my business. Thank you so much and may you live long to help many other entrepreneurs.

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Brian · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 14, 2015

Hi lenders, I appreciate your utmost support towards my cyber businesses. Indeed it has been a tremendous improvements as far as the business profit is concerned. It has increased from USD 270 to USD 320 after purchasing a computer. For real, clients are satisfied with my services. Initially before I joined zidisha, I could barely raise pocket money and pay for hostel fee. I entirely depended on my parents. But now, am totally independent and also I can pay myself part of my college fees. I thank you zidisha for the commendable work you have done towards promoting young entrepreneurs and creating an impact to the community. May God bless you!

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Nikhil · United States

Jul 13, 2015

This morning I met Ann Mwaniki, a wholesale phone card saleswoman and mother of two, who has used three Zidisha loans to expand her business inventory and provide extra income for her family. Ann operates a delivery service in the town of Lucky Summer where she lives, supplying bodegas and groceries with the prepaid phone cards they sell to their customers. She purchases the cards each day from a bulk retailer downtown to resupply her roughly 30 customers, keeping track of their inventory and turnover to size her purchases. Ann delivers the cards personally to her clients, who choose her among competitors for her punctuality and reliability. Although as a wholesale supplier her margins are low, Ann's access to a sizable portion of business in the growing neighborhood of Lucky Summer provides a helpful supplemental income for her family. Ann is on her third Zidisha loan and has maintained a 94% repayment rate. So far, all of her loans have been used to increase the inventory of phone cards, but within the next year she hopes to save enough to open her own retail store - selling phone cards and additional items like electricity tokens and M-PESA transactions to retail customers. Selling directly to consumers in a physical store will allow her to increase her profits and reduce the travel and delivery time that keeps her away from her family. Ann grew up in Nyeri, a small town 250 kilometers north of Nairobi, where her parents still reside. She currently lives just off the main road in Lucky Summer with her husband Oscar and two sons: Favour Blessing, almost 5, and Trevor Mac, just 16 months. Ann's husband originally began the phone card business, which Ann took over when he started a job at a nearby factory, but Ann was the first to use Zidisha loans to expand the operations. Though Ann is a Kikuyu, Oscar is a member of the Luo tribe from the town of Busia in western Kenya. (He is the older brother of Edson Wandera, the Zidisha borrower I met a few weeks ago.) Oscar and Ann met after college, and after two years of dating their families approved the marriage though they came from two different ethnicities. If there was any hesitation in the minds of Ann’s family about the marriage, it was put to rest four years ago when Ann gave birth to Favour. Unfortunately, the birth was a difficult one, and Ann was stricken with a severe calcium deficiency that left her barely able to feed her baby. For almost two years she was bedridden, eventually contracting tuberculosis due to her weakened immune system and needing to take a cocktail of pills each evening. Through the ordeal, Oscar supported his wife, even helping to change Favour's diapers and clean the house. Ann credits her husband immensely for staying by her side, something she feels another husband may not have done. Now fully recovered, Ann is blessed with two healthy boys. On her way to work each morning Ann drops off Favour at a nearby preschool and Mac at his mother-in-law's house, and she collects them on her way home. The two children have opposite personalities; Favour is always smiling and eager to pose for a picture, while Mac is reserved and rarely away from his mother’s shawl. Ann is also thankful to have access to Zidisha, and she serves as a volunteer mentor for 24 other borrowers. Ann, thank you for your hospitality today in showing me your home and neighborhood. I wish you much success with your growing business! comment image

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James · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 13, 2015

This is how vegetables looks now.. Thank u lender comment image

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Abdoulaye · Boké, Guinea

Jul 13, 2015

Hello family I wish to inform you that my activities are ongoing very well since I received my second encor prèt, I made more movement than before and realized it also makes me more profit, every two weeks I send at least 20 red oil drums in Conakry and the sale does not delay meme especially in this month of Ramadan. With that, I thank all the Zidisha lenders, me and my family proud sum all of this institution that offers this great opportunity for entrepreneurs. Thank you and god bless you!

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Frank · Kisii, Kenya

Jul 13, 2015

I take this chance to inform you that my account has been credited with the loan i had applied for. I thank you once more for your services beyond borders. I have already ordered for four cartons of sodas going at ksh. 4600 and eight cartons of dasani drinking mineral water @2800 to be delivered by 9am tomorrow.

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Said · Malindi, Kenya

Jul 13, 2015

Thanks once again for the loan amounting to USD 100. I received the loan and with it i purchased two shock absorbers and a tyre for my motorbike taxi. This has reduced complains from customers regarding the comfort ability when being transported to their destinations. I thank Zidisha for their support and may God bless team Zidisha.

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Joseph · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 12, 2015

Here I was showcasing my work at China,peoples republic embassy in Nairobi where we met with a Chinese company which we partnered together. The company is called Warom technologies. Am so proud of zidisha for helping me acquire a good laptop which is making my work effective now acknowledged in the globe. Thanks zidisha Thanks Graham for lending me . comment image

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Lawrence · Accra, Dansoman Est., Ghana

Jul 12, 2015

I sincerely don't know how to express my gratefulness to you, Nancy , David and Paul Graham, I sincerely don't know how? You have repose confidence in me and I will not let you down. I will with this money purchase some cement to start moulding the blocks and when that is done I will hire some people to complete the digging by then I will be in a much better position to cast the concrete work, then the block work will go up and that I believe will check the eating away of the soil, My aim as at now is to build to check the erosion, I will communicate with all of you on the progress of the work. Thank you so much. You have done what a bank could not do for me, even though my pay passes through that bank. thank you once again, and the Lord's blessing be with you. Lawrence Opoku.

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Nisrina · Magelang, Indonesia

Jul 12, 2015

product name : korsase clarita (best seller this month) comment image

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Prince · Accra, Ghana

Jul 12, 2015

Some of my products(Pepper Sauce) in a shop.We are gradually increasing production. comment image

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Nikhil · United States

Jul 12, 2015

On Thursday, I met Isaiah Githaiga and Mercy Muthoni, a married couple who have used Zidisha loans to launch an online freelancing business and to begin saving for their long-term goal of real estate development. Isaiah met me at the matatu stop in Kahawa Wendani, the town where he lives with his wife Mercy and daughter Cecile. Kahawa Wendani sits along Thika Road just outside of Nairobi to its northeast, and it is a neighborhood of the larger suburb known as Kahawa. Swahili for “coffee”, Kahawa encompasses the neighborhoods Sukari (“sugar”), which has larger homes and estates, and Wendani (“love”), which has lower-income apartments for young families and students from nearby Kenyatta University. Kahawa is also known for its campus of military barracks and administrative buildings for the Kenyan Army. Though he has lived in Kahawa since university, Isaiah was born in Karatina, a small town in Nyeri county about 100 kilometers north of Nairobi, along with five sisters and one brother. Isaiah's late father was a police officer and his mother, who now lives with his older brother near Thika, worked in farming. In 2010, Isaiah met Mercy Muthoni through Facebook, who had also been living in Thika with her family. They got married and three years ago had a daughter, Cecile Wambui. For the last five years, Isaiah has been working as an accountant at Brookside Dairy, Kenya’s largest dairy producer, in their main offices nearby. His credentials as an MBA and CPA earned him a well-paying job in a competitive and often nepotistic job market, a financial situation that most Kenyans would be very content with. But Isaiah’s passion was to own his own business, and for months he spent evenings and weekends researching ventures that could be started with little capital, that allowed flexible hours, and that could be run out of an apartment. His first venture in 2011 was in academic writing, but it failed after one year. In 2012, Isaiah joined the freelancing website oDesk (now Upwork) and began working part-time on data entry and web research tasks. After years of taking online courses to build his skill sets and credentials, Isaiah secured a large contract through oDesk in the summer of 2013 that convinced him to aggressively pursue the business. At this point he brought on his wife Mercy, who quit her job as an administrator to join the business full-time. Now, Mercy handles the data entry and research work while Isaiah focuses on accounting and book-keeping contracts. Mercy works a full day while Cecile is at school and then cares for her family and household each evening. Isaiah spends 45 hours each week at his day job and an additional 40 hours per week, on evenings and weekends, on his freelancing work. Isaiah's six and Mercy's four Zidisha loans have professionalized and expanded their shared business. They have bought an internet modem, laptop, work desk, printer, business phone, and even a hot water machine to make coffee on the nights Isaiah works late through US business hours. Isaiah and Mercy each have 8 clients, mostly small businesses in developed countries, who pay them per hour or per project for their services. They work hard to produce high-quality work that encourages repeat customers, improves their oDesk rating, and allows them to increase their hourly rates. I asked Isaiah why more Kenyan service workers don’t take similar freelancing jobs, which can often pay a higher wage than their day jobs. According to Isaiah, it takes time and energy to create and maintain a high-caliber reputation on a freelancing website, and many people simply don’t want to work so hard when they are already earning a decent wage. In his view, around 80% of Kenyans are satisfied with a good job and a decent pension, while 20% are truly entrepreneurial-minded and only fulfilled when building their own businesses. Isaiah and Mercy are driven to provide a better life and education for their daughter than they enjoyed themselves, and to achieve sufficient financial freedom to choose how and when to work. In fact, Isaiah is already looking to invest his savings into a new business that will set him on the path to achieving this freedom: real estate development. Four years ago he purchased a small plot of land in the eastern half of Kahawa Wendani, a region that was mostly low-income farmland and had significant security issues. He was betting that the growing town would need this region for commercial development and would address the security concerns, and he was right. Isaiah gave me a tour of the neighborhood, showing me the roads, businesses, and apartment buildings that have sprung up over the last few years. Eventually we came to Isaiah’s land on the edge of town, currently used as a cornfield by itinerant farmers. The value of his plot has quadrupled since he bought it four years ago, and he estimates it could appreciate tenfold over the next decade. Isaiah wants to build an apartment complex on his land: first, a single unit for his family that will eliminate their rent payments; next, two multi-level rows of apartments that will house families and university students. Having had a difficult experience borrowing money from a bank at 20+% interest to finance his land purchase, Isaiah wants to fund the initial apartment construction using Zidisha loans. Isaiah is committed to his day job for another five years (freelancing income can be inconsistent, and he needs a stable income to support his daughter), but he believes that real estate ownership can become his family's primary source of income within 10 years and he is eager to break ground soon. Isaiah and Mercy, thank you for hosting me last week at your home and business. You have a beautiful family, and I wish you the best of success with your freelancing business and real estate project! comment image

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Nikhil · United States

Jul 12, 2015

On Thursday, I met Isaiah Githaiga and Mercy Muthoni, a married couple who have used Zidisha loans to launch an online freelancing business and to begin saving for their long-term goal of real estate development. Isaiah met me at the matatu stop in Kahawa Wendani, the town where he lives with his wife Mercy and daughter Cecile. Kahawa Wendani sits along Thika Road just outside of Nairobi to its northeast, and it is a neighborhood of the larger suburb known as Kahawa. Swahili for “coffee”, Kahawa encompasses the neighborhoods Sukari (“sugar”), which has larger homes and estates, and Wendani (“love”), which has lower-income apartments for young families and students from nearby Kenyatta University. Kahawa is also known for its campus of military barracks and administrative buildings for the Kenyan Army. Though he has lived in Kahawa since university, Isaiah was born in Karatina, a small town in Nyeri county about 100 kilometers north of Nairobi, along with five sisters and one brother. Isaiah's late father was a police officer and his mother, who now lives with his older brother near Thika, worked in farming. In 2010, Isaiah met Mercy Muthoni through Facebook, who had also been living in Thika with her family. They got married and three years ago had a daughter, Cecile Wambui. For the last five years, Isaiah has been working as an accountant at Brookside Dairy, Kenya’s largest dairy producer, in their main offices nearby. His credentials as an MBA and CPA earned him a well-paying job in a competitive and often nepotistic job market, a financial situation that most Kenyans would be very content with. But Isaiah’s passion was to own his own business, and for months he spent evenings and weekends researching ventures that could be started with little capital, that allowed flexible hours, and that could be run out of an apartment. His first venture in 2011 was in academic writing, but it failed after one year. In 2012, Isaiah joined the freelancing website oDesk (now Upwork) and began working part-time on data entry and web research tasks. After years of taking online courses to build his skill sets and credentials, Isaiah secured a large contract through oDesk in the summer of 2013 that convinced him to aggressively pursue the business. At this point he brought on his wife Mercy, who quit her job as an administrator to join the business full-time. Now, Mercy handles the data entry and research work while Isaiah focuses on accounting and book-keeping contracts. Mercy works a full day while Cecile is at school and then cares for her family and household each evening. Isaiah spends 45 hours each week at his day job and an additional 40 hours per week, on evenings and weekends, on his freelancing work. Isaiah's six and Mercy's four Zidisha loans have professionalized and expanded their shared business. They have bought an internet modem, laptop, work desk, printer, business phone, and even a hot water machine to make coffee on the nights Isaiah works late through US business hours. Isaiah and Mercy each have 8 clients, mostly small businesses in developed countries, who pay them per hour or per project for their services. They work hard to produce high-quality work that encourages repeat customers, improves their oDesk rating, and allows them to increase their hourly rates. I asked Isaiah why more Kenyan service workers don’t take similar freelancing jobs, which can often pay a higher wage than their day jobs. According to Isaiah, it takes time and energy to create and maintain a high-caliber reputation on a freelancing website, and many people simply don’t want to work so hard when they are already earning a decent wage. In his view, around 80% of Kenyans are satisfied with a good job and a decent pension, while 20% are truly entrepreneurial-minded and only fulfilled when building their own businesses. Isaiah and Mercy are driven to provide a better life and education for their daughter than they enjoyed themselves, and to achieve sufficient financial freedom to choose how and when to work. In fact, Isaiah is already looking to invest his savings into a new business that will set him on the path to achieving this freedom: real estate development. Four years ago he purchased a small plot of land in the eastern half of Kahawa Wendani, a region that was mostly low-income farmland and had significant security issues. He was betting that the growing town would need this region for commercial development and would address the security concerns, and he was right. Isaiah gave me a tour of the neighborhood, showing me the roads, businesses, and apartment buildings that have sprung up over the last few years. Eventually we came to Isaiah’s land on the edge of town, currently used as a cornfield by itinerant farmers. The value of his plot has quadrupled since he bought it four years ago, and he estimates it could appreciate tenfold over the next decade. Isaiah wants to build an apartment complex on his land: first, a single unit for his family that will eliminate their rent payments; next, two multi-level rows of apartments that will house families and university students. Having had a difficult experience borrowing money from a bank at 20+% interest to finance his land purchase, Isaiah wants to fund the initial apartment construction using Zidisha loans. Isaiah is committed to his day job for another five years (freelancing income can be inconsistent, and he needs a stable income to support his daughter), but he believes that real estate ownership can become his family's primary source of income within 10 years and he is eager to break ground soon. Isaiah and Mercy, thank you for hosting me last week at your home and business. You have a beautiful family, and I wish you the best of success with your freelancing business and real estate project! comment image

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Fredrick · Githurai, Kenya

Jul 12, 2015

so much proud to say hi to my lenders.Am much thankful for the money you loaned me.May the almighty lord shower with His great blessings from the above.In fact the money you loaned has really changed me positively since my profit margin has raised from 50% to 80% which actually has enabled me to even think wider and have greater hopes and dreams.The business is doing quite well and i inted to open another branch so as to ensure that all my customers are attended to the satisfaction.Good luck

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Emmah · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 12, 2015

Renovation of the two toilets has just kicked off on 11th July 2015. The whole school team is exited since we shall no longer move to the next building for body elimination services. Thank you the zidisha team. comment image

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Evans · Kisii- Mosocho Market Mwobo Village, Kenya

Jul 12, 2015

My Tommy turkey. It is territorial. It is a source of security. Scares away unwanted visitors and predators. comment image

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Evans · Kisii- Mosocho Market Mwobo Village, Kenya

Jul 12, 2015

From my previous loans i bought several ornamental birds like Geese(2 females, one male), Turkeys( two females, one male), Guinea fowls( 3 females, one male, Ducks( male and female and Egyptian ducks( one male and one female). I also bought several local chickens currently at 40. One of my turkeys has 2 months old 9 chicks and the other one is hatching by end of this month. IO am expecting between 10 and 15 chicks. I have 16 guinea fowls chicks and 30 eggs are in the incubator whose hatching date is 5th of August. I also bought 10 eggs of Snow White geese and my hen is sitting on them and i expect chicks to be hatched by end of this month. I have also constructed a 2000 capacity cage for my birds. It is ready. I need around 1000 dollars to completely actualize my dreams. However, i am doing one thing at a time, accomplishing one goal at a time. I have made a lot of progress and i am excited courtesy of Zidisha and my esteemed lenders. I am looking forward to a better working relationship.

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Stephen · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 10, 2015

Dear Zidisha lenders, Following your immense support through your funding of the cereals and eggs project, I am happy to inform you that your contribution has greatly enhanced our quality of life. Since the eggs and cereals was a viable investment choice from the beginning, the entire shop business is generating $80 more in terms of monthly profits. As such, our savings have improved besides leading happier lives. Thank you Zidisha for your unwavering support. comment image

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Anthony · Rongai, Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 10, 2015

My sincere gratitudes to my lenders. Am grateful most importantly for the confidence and patience that you have vested in me. The previous loan of $90 was gave me a breathing space in the face of strong competition tides at my place of business. When i joined Zidisha I had a capital base of ony $200 (Ksh 20,000) with a monthy profit of $ 150 (ksh 15,000) when it shot the highest. My aspiration was that i would fetch atleast $ 225 (ksh 22,500) with and expanded capital base of $300 (ksh 30,000) with the help of zidisha. I have faced bad challenges but when i look at my figures as they stand now, i can not be more grateful than this! First my business is now worth $400 (ksh 40,000) and my profits per month avarage at $ 243 (ksh 24,500). Within the period i have been a Zidisha member i have enhanced and expanded my stock. Early in April i had to relocate to another place nearby where i would get a more spacious room for my business. Am thankful to my lenders who have been patient with me in my business as i faced critical adminstrative issues majorly because i had to joggle my business operations and my education especially that time when i was taking part of my final year exams in college mid last month. Good news with all that is that am hopefull to graduate early next month all because of what the business has enabled me to. I have all the reasons to thank my lenders for allowing me make these achievements in life. I have lodged another loan application and i aspire to keep expanding. I effectively may not do that without your continued confidence and invaluable assistance into the course of my business. Thank you and God bless.

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Ann · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 9, 2015

Goodmorning to my Lenders,am well and am grateful,evey tyme i use the oven that i bought with the Loan that you offered,i bless God for using you as a vessel to bless me.The oven is of great help to me

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James · Berekum, Ghana

Jul 9, 2015

Dear lenders,I realy appreciate the wonderful things you are doing to me and my business.Now my business is on going smoothly.ZIDISHA and its lenders have motivated me to write more different series of story books for schools,because they have made me known that whenever I call upon them for help in my business, they will gladly answer me and come into my aid.For now my business is improved to the extend that I can now get money to pay my fees at the distance tertially education and also get my daily bread .I can say that with zidisha life is more comfortable. There is therefore nothing that can shut up my mouth of telling others about the good things Zidisha and its lenders are doing to us here.I will also look for more trustwolthy business men to join.Thank you ZIDISHA, Thank you DEAR LENDERS. comment image

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Charles · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 9, 2015

I have completed my research on organic pesticide product development. It performed well and compared well with a common inorganic insecticide, especially on limiting residual heavy metals in vegetables. Future work will involve its commercialization by working on aspects like increasing shelf life, packaging, standardization, and concentrating to limit bulkiness. A report on the performance on limiting residual heavy metals has been submitted to my external supervisor at Blacksmith Institute (New York). concurrently, I submitted a manuscript based on the same research to the Journal Of Health and Pollution (JHP) (USA) for potential publication. If published, it will mark a great stride in the journey of both scientific research, technical writing as well as innovation for solving our contemporary challenges. I am hoping that both the manuscript and report will be approved before am paid the remaining fraction of the research support. I would like to thank Zidisha lenders who believed in this start up idea and chipped in their loans.

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Harun · Nakuru Racecource, Kenya

Jul 9, 2015

Hi lenders and Zidisha members, am soo greatful for your assistance in seeing that i exel in life. I am finishing my loan on 12/7/15 and i can see a great improvement in the business as the margin have greatly gone up as well as i was able to service my loan comfortably without any strain. With you i can see i achieving my goal. Thank you very much

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Yeboah · Berekum, Ghana

Jul 9, 2015

My poultry farm business is growing by the day since I joined this family. I am now absolutely positive that I'll be wealthy as long as I have your support. Thank you lender and thank you Zidisha.

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Margaret · Kahawa, Kenya

Jul 9, 2015

EXCITED TO REPORT: With my first loan, I have succeeded to expand my business. From clothes only, I am now selling synthetic hair for ladies (weaves, braids etc) I am excited and soon I will rent a stall to do my business from. God bless Zidisha Team and all the lenders and people of good will.

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Kyere · Berekum, Ghana

Jul 8, 2015

The loan was used to purchase of smartphone chargers,screen protectors,and covers. These inventories increased the earnings of the shop by 5%. The earnings was reinvested in the business.

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Cliff · Kakamega, Kenya

Jul 8, 2015

first and foremost, i would love to thank the lenders for the loan that they gave me last time out of trust only. no cash deposit i made interns of shares like any normal bank. that was a rear opportunity and am grateful for that. the loan helped me purchase a laser jet printer that enabled me make paper plates for press printing. on purchasing the printer , i realized growth inn my business in terms of profit because initially i used to print from a nearby shop. the profit that i got enabled me to pay my loan on time and still managed to remain with something small for myself. thanks to zidisha lenders. comment image

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Antony · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 8, 2015

the loan you granted me has gone along way in boosting my business profits.its been doing good

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Muriuki · Chuka, Kenya

Jul 8, 2015

Hi, I greatly appreciate to have completed my payment without any difficulty, zidisha family has been of a great life changer in my business, i had bought chips cooking machine which started at a high peak which gave me a chance to complete my payments in time, i now enjoy the growth of my business through zidisha support, thank you zidisha family

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Nikhil · United States

Jul 8, 2015

Yesterday I met Josephat Bundi, a clothing retailer and seasoned Zidisha borrower, at his home in the town of Juja. Josephat was born in Nyamira, a region in western Kenya near Lake Victora and over 400km from Nairobi. Josephat is a member of the Kikuyu tribe, the most populous ethnic group in Kenya. Kikuyus are strongly represented in local and national business and politics - Kenya has had four presidents since the modern nation formed in 1964, and three have been Kikuyu. Much of Josephat's family remains in Nyamira, whom he visits regularly. Though Josephat is set to graduate from JKUAT this year with a degree in control and instrumentation, he has been running his clothing business for over two years. Starting out with only string and tape to hang clothing from lampposts and fences, he has built the business to occupy a set of four adjacent wooden stalls at a busy street corner near the university. He has used three Zidisha loans to fuel his growth over the past year, expanding into shirts, shoes, scarves, jackets, pants, and other accessories. Josephat dreams one day of starting a fashion clothing boutique in downtown Nairobi, where the market size and customer base will allow his business to grow bigger than it could in Juja. Unlike many students at JKUAT who spend time studying, having fun, or seeking jobs, Josephat seems committed to his clothing business, which he plans to continue full-time after graduating. Josephat, thank you for showing me your business and neighborhood yesterday. I wish you the best of luck! comment image

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Veronica · Nairobi, Kenya

Jul 7, 2015

Am very grateful to all my lenders and the entire Zidisha Team for making my dream come true.My business has grown due to the previous loan from Zidisha and am making double profit.Innitially i used to make an average of $40 but now i make an average of $80 to $90 profit per week.I pay my staffs comfortablely and am now self reliant.

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Kojo · Odorkoraccra, Ghana

Jul 7, 2015

Dear Lenders, l used the loan to repay part of my fees and this has enable me to continue my education.Thank you very much and hoping you will continue to support me again so that l will continue my education.

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Samuel · Maai Mahiu, Kenya

Jul 7, 2015

With my first loan, I bought 7 chairs for 70 dollars. With the remainder I bought power extensions and power cables for 9 dollars. Armed with the itemd I fixed my business. My customer base increased a bit and I was able to achieve customer satisfaction. Thanks to you for putting a smile on my face.

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Tobias · Thika, Kenya

Jul 7, 2015

I am in the process of setting up Pharmacy after shifting my focus to my profession due some ethical issues with the previous niche I was in. I want to Thika Zidisha family for keeping afloat and when the right time comes I will ask for your assistance. Whenever you are in this part of the country feel free and visit me at my new Pharmacy outlet serving a middle and low income population who are unable to access quality healthcare. comment image

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Grace Wakarindi · Kivumbini Estate,nakuru East Constituency,nakuru County, Kenya

Jul 7, 2015

Hallo all the kind lenders,I am pleased to tell you that my business is ding fine as a result of your kind support of zidisha loan. Since I received the loan my kiosk has been ever busy in serving more customers than ever before.To you all I am thanking you for the kind support and I am encouraging you also to keep the good work of boosting my business in my future loans.Thanks alot. Regards, Grace Wakarindi.

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