Hi Lenders,
I sincerely thank you for lending me money. For sure you are great people, with the money I recieved i.e. Ksh. 9,000 I was able to restock my store. Currently, we have received rains and farmers are back on their farms it is a planting season. I am telling you I am making money, the beans which I bought at Ksh. 4,500 I am selling at Ksh. 6,000. I had stocked enough with your assistance I was able to buy two sacks (180kg). Everyone is rushing to my store to buy beans for planting.
I had also stocked enough maize, I am sure in May I will also be selling maize at a higher price.
You have made me proud! repaying my loan is not hard. I promise to work with you people to reach my dream land. Thanks and May God bless you.
Allow me to inform you that i received the loan already with amount 1.295.000,- thank you so much.
Now i could buy some material for my crochet handbag product.. and hope i could buy one more sewing machine soon.
Thank you for your kind & attention.
thank so much zidisha team, the laptop i bought from the funded to me just made my work very easy. now there no bunch of work left behind for my customers moreover, my business now is making a bigger profit than before. God bless you lenders from zidisha.
I wish to thank my previous and current lenders for their support. I am very much grateful. God bless you all. I was able to purchase two more ewes with the loan you gave me last time.
This week only, 5 of my ewes gave birth – one sired twins – but one of the six lambs died. I am expecting three more lambs by the end of this week.
Hi Lenders. i appreciate for the Loan you disbursed to me of Ksh 4565. I have been able to boost my business by purchasing 3 new computer keyboards. My business is now booming because of improved service delivery. The daily profit has increased significantly that has contributed to the repayment of the loan. I thank you for the hard effort you have done in ensuring that am successful in my business and also for assisting other potential entrepreneurs realize their dreams . Thanks Zidisha Team.
Hi Lenders, am very grateful because i have been able to add on my stock. i was able to buy all kind of perfumes, weaves and few jewelry. i also expanded my business and bought women shoes. the business is really coming up and customers are happy. i was able to add a stock worth 110$ and the profit has increased by 20%. i say a big thank you.
Hallow my lenders .Am very thankful for the loan you gave me. It has made me build confidence with the local schools around.. For on time deliveries of school uniforms.. More so I sponsored a needy child to school.. She is very happy because she never expected such an opportunity to come her way.. She has a reason to smile. Many thanks to all lenders
Through the previous loan, I was able to raise and save Ksh. 15,000. With this amount, am intending to buy another printer now that this is time for holidays. Based on past experience, this is the time when most people are likely to be printing holiday cards and undertake various ceremonies and festivals as well. So am expecting that my business will be really very busy.
first of all i would like to thank all the zidisha team to keeping me informed and such a wonderfull concern,more and even to the lenders ,you really helped me alot and am currently doing good i managed to buy some plastic chairs and make a small partitioning of the the play station base, i highly appreciate you all God bless you all.
I'll keep-on giving you my progress!
After buying a high speed CPU through your support, this helped my business for I was able to serve my customers within a short period of time. This helped my business to raise its income by 13% and it helped me so much to help my family especially my parents who need my help and also pay fees for my siblings. This brought peace to my family for they were able to consume what they needed and harmony was with us. Remembers me again.
Thank you so much to all who funded me. I did bought the Epson printer and its real made a big difference in my cyber business. I real repaid my loan on time due to the one hundred percent profit I made due to the availability of the new Epson printer. I have applied for another one and its my hope that you will not hesitate to fund me. I would like to buy a laptop so that I may be able to work at home at night when the work is more.
In my business, I do like the lending terms of ZIDISHA. With my 1st loan, I managed to increase my stock of chicken and my income has greatly improved. With my 2nd loan of KES 21,000, I will be able to expand and build a very nice structure for the poultry.
I sincerely thank you for your loan that has enabled me to renovate the house of my rabbits thus this has boosted the increment of the rabbits due to well up house keeping.I again say thank you.
First of all, I wish to thank you for giving me the loan. The money came when I needed to do expansion of my snacks business and it has helped me cover about 80% of my budget. My budget went up significantly after the government increased the cost of licenses. For this reason, I am working very hard to raise the balance so that I can embark on the work that I intended to do. I am directing almost all my income in raising this money and I am requesting you to allow me to pay KES 150 per week until I solve this issue.
Thank you for this opportunity you have given me again.My previous loan was so successful such that i managed to expand my business.I also managed to get extra income that enabled me to take my daughter to school.I have managed to increase my stock by 40% and also i was able to venture into new market.Actually, as a result i was able to take my family for a retreat during this Easter holiday.
Than you Zidisha for your support
Hi Zidisha and Lenders,
hope are feeling great wherever you are. i am pleased to share that the cutting machine you helped me purchase has made production to be very smooth and my customers are getting there orders in good time.
i have improved financially and i am even paying school fees and rent in time.
every one is exited at the workshop and here is an pictorial i did.
To my lenders. I am now at the tail end of my loan repayment. This is my first loan ever and I must say that I was a bit apprehensive when I applied for this loan. I am glad my fears were unfounded since I have found Zidisha's terms to be very friendly.
The money has been of much help to my business since I was able to buy a few cartridges which I then sold at a tidy profit.
I hope to keep a clean record as I prepare to apply for another loan soon.
Dear Zidisha am grateful for the shoe business that is currently going on since you funded me.During this period i have started to see increase in my customers especially in the area of children's shoes.Parents are buying shoes for their children both for going back to school on May and for home use.I have even purchased belts to combine with my shoe business and am even planning to include handbags with the profits i get after paying the loan.Thank you Zidisha for your continued support.
I must say this is the best micro-finance and most reliable sourcde of small finances to boost businesses.
I have established the car wash and now looking foward to improving its status by purchasing a bigger machine.
Loan repayment has not been a problem as i did this promptly from my small business. Furthermore my small car has a new battery, the car has been of great help running small errands and ding small businesses.
I look forward to a brighter future with Zidisha.
Thanks so much.
Thanks.
Dear lenders, I am delighted to inform you that you that my business is doing well and the injection of the money from the Zidisha loan has accelerated it's growth.
I managed to stock more wall posters and even introduced sale of text book with very promising results.
Dear lenders....am really grateful for the first loan that you granted me. This changed my life as in it increased my stock of photocopy services which in turn changed my living standard. The first loan that you granted me increased my sales by 20%. Due to high demand in sales and photocopy would like to apply for another loan. Thank you lenders and may God bless you abundantly.
Thank you so much lenders for availing funds to ensure the loaning facility is successful. With the previous loan, we managed to purchase more biomass material and also employed one more additional person, by the name Joseph to join our fast growing Charcoal briquette firm.
Hi Zidisha and my lenders.
I am pleased to accept that I am one of the great beneficiaries of the Zidisha program.
I have the students already using the materials and the computer I have bought now is making my work easier by far. I am making the records required by the headquarters of the school of ministry and I am able to access information required easily. Communication now is easier and faster. I am able to record the results as they come forth for the purpose of delivery on daily basis.
Thanks to Zidisha and all the lenders who are like a closely knit family with a goal of lifting the lives of people everywhere.
God bless you so much.
My daughter Myrla turned one year last month and here she is trying out one of our new products. She is now employed in the family business as a marketing assistant.
Dear to all lenders i take this opportunity to thank you all for your support,am now able to pay for my examination fee and now i feel relaxed,this is such a wonderful place to be.Now i come to you requesting to to allow me to reschedule my loan to a bigger amount as i had promised you last month.
Dear lenders i kindly take this minute to say a word of thank as you enable my business growth without doubt.I am looking to work with you for better in future,today i come to tell you that i will be paying more as my business is doing fine now.
Dear zidisha,i thank u for offer that was done me to help grow my business in the form of inventory.By Gods grace business has been very good,especially when i introduced the market to market business to my boutique business.By God's grace today happen to be the last but one week of my repayment,however with the financial strength i have for this week i have decided to add my final repayment of GHS 38 to this week repayment of GHS 32 thereby accumulating to GHS 70.I am doing this to enable me apply for my next credit facility within this week because by God's a colleague business partner is ready to take me to Togo (a country in Africa) to buy my clothings at cheaper prices over there and bring them to Ghana.i believe this move will really grow my business and give me a competitive edge over my competitors because i will have the strategic opportunity to cut my prices slightly to gain more customers.
Thank you very much for this amazing opportunity because it has really impacted my business positively.
Hello lenders since i got your loan it has been unbelievable to my business.Since i bought the pump am able to sell greens every day and drought is not a threat any more.Money is coming and i can say am able to pay more,thank you all.
Thanks alot to the zidisha community for having funded me the loan i was given plus my personal savings has really worked out for me, i bought the required equipments and stocked a new and big premise that i moved in , the business is now picking up very well am sure its growing into a bigger business in the near future. thanks very much for the funds
My lenders i come before today to thank you very much for supporting me.I had reschedule my loan to smaller amount earlier but today as i promised you now i reschedule to bigger amount because my business is doing fine.
Dear my lenders am very thankful for your support,i received your loan and invested fully in my business and at the moment i see a big change in my business because am able to attract more customers hence able to get more profit in future.Now i kindly request you to allow me to reschedule my loan to a smaller amount for only one month as means of grace period,thanks.
I am happy today as i take this opportunity to thank all my lenders for supporting me this far because am able to grow my business this much.Now it's not me who is happy but my entire family.Today i reschedule my loan as i had promised you,thank you for giving me this grace period.
I thank the entire Zidisha team and my lenders who have shown great love towards me.
I have stocked my boutique with more shirts due to the increase in demand.
I was able to pay my fees on time.
Thank you very very very much ZIDISHA
Dear lenders,have been very fine with my son and doing very well with my farming.I really upreciated my second loan which helped me to boost my produce and made a profit which helped me to complete my loan confotably.I hope for a successful funding of my next applied loan.thank you all.
Hello Lenders, I’m very grateful for loan of Ksh10, 956 that you gave me. The loan has helped me purchase some more stock for my business and I have also started selling trench coats for women and slowly I can see my business expanding. May God bless you as continue to support and uplift us.
The below photo include some of the goods that I managed to add to my stock.
My sincere gratitude goes to all the lenders who gave me the financial boost, my agriculture is on track, i am able to pay fees for my children and meet my needs , i am looking to hire another piece of land else where within the same region, the market is growing and i want to be one of the active players, my vision is to be a strong supplier of local supermarkets,today is Easter holiday and i am with my family and my grand children have also visited me, Thank you
Hi my lenders! am very thankful for your funding.In fact the loan received was 100$ which has actually boosted me enormously. I managed to introduce two more varieties of fruits in my grocery at a cost of 100$.I expect to get 50% profit increase out of this expansion.Again thank you for your support and I hope you will always support me.Good luck.
Last week, a torrential rainstorm in Accra let up just enough for me to make it to the city center, where I met Monica. Monica sells mobile phone recharge cards out of a small booth, just big enough to sit two people comfortably. Although the wooden structure is dark, it is brightened by Monica’s big smile, colorful dress, and the bejeweled butterfly clips in her hair. Located in the heart of the city and right across from the main post office, Monica’s shop sees a lot of traffic. She sells single cards to individuals but many of her customers are regulars and come for big orders of various cards to resell on the roadside or in shops.
I was actually referred to Monica by Vincent, a student at the University of Ghana whom I had met earlier that week. Vincent was one of Monica’s regular customers but was disappointed one day when she didn’t have the cards in stock that he needed. She explained that, buying on credit, she didn’t yet have the capital to pay back her last purchase and restock. He had recently used a Zidisha loan to pay his academic fees, and introduced her to the website.
Since getting started with Zidisha, Monica’s business has transformed. With her first loan, she bought an expanded inventory of cards upfront. Her second loan provided the capital for a big purchase just before Christmas, to take advantage of a regular surge in demand. With the boost she earned from that season, she no longer buys cards on credit, further increasing her profit margin. She is also able to keep her inventory well stocked, and that reliability has attracted a lot of new regulars.
But it’s not just her business that benefits from her loans. Monica is a mother to her twelve-year-old daughter, Caribel, and lives with and cares for her youngest sister, Alice. And with her increased income, Monica has been able to pay for Alice to fulfill her dreams and attend nursing school.
I know Monica is incredibly grateful for the help she has received from Zidisha and her lenders, and hopes to continue to grow her business and support her family. And Monica – thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me. It was a delight!
I met Love recently at her home in Kpone, a neighborhood whose name I will probably never learn to properly pronounce, near Tema. She heard about Zidisha from her brother Benjamin last year and has been using loans to supplement her work with beaded jewelry.
Love’s designs incorporate a variety of influences – putting a modern and cosmopolitan twist on traditional African designs. She sources her beads and materials from as far as Nigeria, the Czech Republic, and China, but makes sure to feature traditional Ghanaian beads (like the ones on the bracelets, pictured) in every piece. She says her customers want to wear jewelry that feels modern and at home in the city but that recalls their heritage and, to stay ahead of trends, she gets inspiration online. Her most recent work involves twisting wire from China around African beads in intricate patterns (see images of necklaces).
Love has overcome significant challenges since her husband passed away nine years ago. Suddenly she needed to find a way to support three children as a single mother. So although she had a degree in fashion and worked as a seamstress, she branched out to incorporate and then focus on beadwork. Now the whole, artistically talented family gets involved. Her older children, 23 and 20, have started beadwork themselves. And her youngest daughter, 11-year-old Jasmine, often draws designs that they then create. (You can see some of her other drawings below.)
Zidisha has afforded Love the opportunity to purchase stocks of materials for her designs. Most of her work is made to order and often purchased on credit, with customers paying at the end of the month when they receive their salary. So having the ability to buy extra materials in advance has been a great help to Love’s business as she is putting her youngest child through school.
I know she is incredibly thankful for the support she has received from her lenders and looks forward to growing her business. I recently returned to Tema and was excited to get to visit Love again and purchase some jewelry for myself and family. I also have to credit “Mama Love’s” house as the first place I tried sobolo – a sweet and refreshing drink made with bissap leaves, water, and ginger.
Anyway, Love, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me! It was a pleasure to meet you and Jasmine.
Edward lives near Cape Coast, a city known for being surrounded by beautiful beaches and haunting colonial forts. But we met recently in Accra where he popped in for a few days to take care of some business.
Edward’s story is nothing short of inspirational. He spent his early years in a charity center, which provided housing for orphans and rehabilitation for troubled youth. But the center lost funding while he was there and could no longer serve as a home or provide funding for many of its residents. Edward was fortunate enough to find a family member to take him in. He was able attend school, excelling at his studies as the assistant school prefect, and graduate.
Edward has always been interested in business but lacked funds to pursue university. So he started to read and study on his own and became interested in entrepreneurship. He began with the idea to open a computer center, but soon he noticed that there was no good pharmacy in his community. And after watching his neighbors have to travel very far in order to get their medicine, he decided to open one up himself.
The first challenge of opening a pharmacy, he told me, was obtaining the proper licenses. But once he had accomplished that, he ran into another difficulty – keeping a stocked inventory. He instantly attracted potential customers but couldn’t always provide them with the exact medicines they were seeking. Although the business had been started so that his neighbors wouldn’t have to travel far for their medicine, all too often he had to send them away on that same journey when he didn’t have what they needed on the shelves.
That’s when a friend introduced Edward to Zidisha. His Zidisha loan provided the upfront capital necessary to keep his inventory full of a wide variety of basic medicines. Finally, he could cater to his community’s needs and didn’t have to turn customers away. The pharmacy has been opened for a year and a half now and is continuing to grow. When we met, Edward was actually in Accra finishing up the paperwork for a license to bill prescription drugs to the National Health Insurance Scheme himself, further easing access to his customers.
Although his focus now is on his current business, once that is established he has his sights set on expansion. He still keeps in touch with a few of his mates from the charity center home, smart individuals but many of whom, he explains, didn’t fare as well as he did. So in the future he hopes to provide one or two with job training and employment in his growing business.
Edward, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me on your trip to Accra. We wish you the best with your pharmacy and look forward to seeing how it grows!
Last week I finally got to visit the campus of the University of Ghana in Legon, a northern suburb of Accra, where I met with Vincent and a few other students.
Vincent is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in history and archaeology and on track to graduate in 2016. Afterward, he plans to return for his master’s. He especially likes learning about the African diaspora and the chance he gets at university to talk to international students about their experiences. Quiet and thoughtful – he would rather be reading (his favorite author is Chinua Achebe) than at a big party. Of the opportunities for exploration on campus, he says, “Every moment as a student you discover something.”
Vincent has used his Zidisha loans to pay academic fees and recently to purchase a laptop for his studies. Before, his only access to a computer was at the computer center on campus, a good half-hour’s walk away from his residence hall. Now he can do his work anywhere, enabling him to better fit schoolwork into his schedule and more easily work on his projects.
As we talk, he gives me a tour of the university. We start at the centrally located Balme library (pictured), passing through Vincent’s favorite spots to study and the African studies library which displays, behind cases, the University’s collection of old and rare volumes. Outside, attractive white buildings with terracotta roofs make up most of the campus with expansive trees lining the streets, providing shade and a distinctly collegial feel. Finally, we stop by the Kwame Nkrumah Institute of African Studies, one of Vincent’s buildings, and take a look at its museum of Ashanti artifacts.
I know Vincent is grateful for the support he has received from his Zidisha lenders in allowing him to pursue his education and the opportunity to interact with lenders around the world.
Vincent, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me and letting me wander around campus! It was such a pleasure and we wish the best of luck in your studies.
Bryson
Apr 8, 2015
Manyatta, Kisumu, Kenya
Supply of bottled drinking water and cleaning detergents
these are the sizes fit for offices and home use they are from sizes 5ltrs to 20ltr dipoposable (i.e the 20ltrs btls is not returnable)
Hellen
Apr 8, 2015
Rongai, Kenya
Storing and distributing maize for local farmers
Hi Lenders,
I sincerely thank you for lending me money. For sure you are great people, with the money I recieved i.e. Ksh. 9,000 I was able to restock my store. Currently, we have received rains and farmers are back on their farms it is a planting season. I am telling you I am making money, the beans which I bought at Ksh. 4,500 I am selling at Ksh. 6,000. I had stocked enough with your assistance I was able to buy two sacks (180kg). Everyone is rushing to my store to buy beans for planting.
I had also stocked enough maize, I am sure in May I will also be selling maize at a higher price.
You have made me proud! repaying my loan is not hard. I promise to work with you people to reach my dream land. Thanks and May God bless you.
Tony
Apr 8, 2015
Umoja, Kenya
Purchase photocopier machine
Posing in my business.
Jantie
Apr 7, 2015
Banguntapan, Indonesia
Machine for knitting handbags, wallets and accessories
Dear Lenders,
Allow me to inform you that i received the loan already with amount 1.295.000,- thank you so much.
Now i could buy some material for my crochet handbag product.. and hope i could buy one more sewing machine soon.
Thank you for your kind & attention.
Best Regards
Jantie K.
Kenneth
Apr 7, 2015
Bahati, Kenya
Computers to start an IT training center
thank so much zidisha team, the laptop i bought from the funded to me just made my work very easy. now there no bunch of work left behind for my customers moreover, my business now is making a bigger profit than before. God bless you lenders from zidisha.
Siriki
Apr 7, 2015
Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Joiner/Cabinetmaker
Je tiens a vous remercier pour le prêt que vous m'aviez donné. Cela m'aide beaucoup dans mon activité.
I want to thank you for the loan that you've given me. It has helped me a lot in my business.
Translated by
Je tiens a vous remercier pour le prêt que vous m'aviez donné. Cela m'aide beaucoup dans mon activité.
Abigail
Apr 7, 2015
Berekum, Ghana
Distributing barrels for water storage
Thank you lenders, i have acquired enough stockof drums and i hope it will go well. Loan received and i say a big thank you
Bernard
Apr 7, 2015
Siwot Village, Kenya
Buying of ewe
I wish to thank my previous and current lenders for their support. I am very much grateful. God bless you all. I was able to purchase two more ewes with the loan you gave me last time.
This week only, 5 of my ewes gave birth – one sired twins – but one of the six lambs died. I am expecting three more lambs by the end of this week.
Victor
Apr 7, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Loan to purchase computer accessories
Hi Lenders. i appreciate for the Loan you disbursed to me of Ksh 4565. I have been able to boost my business by purchasing 3 new computer keyboards. My business is now booming because of improved service delivery. The daily profit has increased significantly that has contributed to the repayment of the loan. I thank you for the hard effort you have done in ensuring that am successful in my business and also for assisting other potential entrepreneurs realize their dreams . Thanks Zidisha Team.
Samuel
Apr 7, 2015
Nakuru, Kenya
Loan to add to my stock of beauty products
Hi Lenders, am very grateful because i have been able to add on my stock. i was able to buy all kind of perfumes, weaves and few jewelry. i also expanded my business and bought women shoes. the business is really coming up and customers are happy. i was able to add a stock worth 110$ and the profit has increased by 20%. i say a big thank you.
Amos
Apr 7, 2015
Mtwapa, Kenya
For home renovation (fallen house)
Hallow my lenders .Am very thankful for the loan you gave me. It has made me build confidence with the local schools around.. For on time deliveries of school uniforms.. More so I sponsored a needy child to school.. She is very happy because she never expected such an opportunity to come her way.. She has a reason to smile. Many thanks to all lenders
Felix
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Paper for printing holiday cards at my cybercafe
Through the previous loan, I was able to raise and save Ksh. 15,000. With this amount, am intending to buy another printer now that this is time for holidays. Based on past experience, this is the time when most people are likely to be printing holiday cards and undertake various ceremonies and festivals as well. So am expecting that my business will be really very busy.
Brian
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Purchasing of plastic chairs and desks for computer
first of all i would like to thank all the zidisha team to keeping me informed and such a wonderfull concern,more and even to the lenders ,you really helped me alot and am currently doing good i managed to buy some plastic chairs and make a small partitioning of the the play station base, i highly appreciate you all God bless you all.
I'll keep-on giving you my progress!
Innocent
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Funds to add three more computers to my business (cybercafe)
After buying a high speed CPU through your support, this helped my business for I was able to serve my customers within a short period of time. This helped my business to raise its income by 13% and it helped me so much to help my family especially my parents who need my help and also pay fees for my siblings. This brought peace to my family for they were able to consume what they needed and harmony was with us. Remembers me again.
Michael
Apr 6, 2015
Kibarani,kilifi County, Kenya
Boutique cyber mix
Thank you so much to all who funded me. I did bought the Epson printer and its real made a big difference in my cyber business. I real repaid my loan on time due to the one hundred percent profit I made due to the availability of the new Epson printer. I have applied for another one and its my hope that you will not hesitate to fund me. I would like to buy a laptop so that I may be able to work at home at night when the work is more.
Tobias
Apr 6, 2015
Kong'eche, Kenya
Seeking loan to buy indigenous chicken (broillers) for sale
In my business, I do like the lending terms of ZIDISHA. With my 1st loan, I managed to increase my stock of chicken and my income has greatly improved. With my 2nd loan of KES 21,000, I will be able to expand and build a very nice structure for the poultry.
Robert
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Buying a car buffing machine
the car buffing machine i bought is of much help to me as now am not hiring from other places as before and this helps me save on that
Stanley
Apr 6, 2015
Mombasa, Kenya
Renovating of the rabbit housing
I sincerely thank you for your loan that has enabled me to renovate the house of my rabbits thus this has boosted the increment of the rabbits due to well up house keeping.I again say thank you.
Felister
Apr 6, 2015
Miritini, Kenya
Retail license and cooking materials for groundnuts business
First of all, I wish to thank you for giving me the loan. The money came when I needed to do expansion of my snacks business and it has helped me cover about 80% of my budget. My budget went up significantly after the government increased the cost of licenses. For this reason, I am working very hard to raise the balance so that I can embark on the work that I intended to do. I am directing almost all my income in raising this money and I am requesting you to allow me to pay KES 150 per week until I solve this issue.
Thank you.
Isaac
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Increase my stock in food retail supply
Thank you for this opportunity you have given me again.My previous loan was so successful such that i managed to expand my business.I also managed to get extra income that enabled me to take my daughter to school.I have managed to increase my stock by 40% and also i was able to venture into new market.Actually, as a result i was able to take my family for a retreat during this Easter holiday.
Than you Zidisha for your support
Jackness
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Buying more layer chickens and enlarging poultry house
My new calf and my daughter
Jackness
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Buying more layer chickens and enlarging poultry house
Z
Derrick
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
New industrial overlock machine
Hi Zidisha and Lenders,
hope are feeling great wherever you are. i am pleased to share that the cutting machine you helped me purchase has made production to be very smooth and my customers are getting there orders in good time.
i have improved financially and i am even paying school fees and rent in time.
every one is exited at the workshop and here is an pictorial i did.
Warm Regards
Derrick Otieno.
Ali
Apr 6, 2015
Mombasa, Kenya
Recycling materials
To my lenders. I am now at the tail end of my loan repayment. This is my first loan ever and I must say that I was a bit apprehensive when I applied for this loan. I am glad my fears were unfounded since I have found Zidisha's terms to be very friendly.
The money has been of much help to my business since I was able to buy a few cartridges which I then sold at a tidy profit.
I hope to keep a clean record as I prepare to apply for another loan soon.
David
Apr 6, 2015
Githurai 45 Next To Mwiki, Kenya
Kimson boutique
Dear Zidisha am grateful for the shoe business that is currently going on since you funded me.During this period i have started to see increase in my customers especially in the area of children's shoes.Parents are buying shoes for their children both for going back to school on May and for home use.I have even purchased belts to combine with my shoe business and am even planning to include handbags with the profits i get after paying the loan.Thank you Zidisha for your continued support.
Paul
Apr 6, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Caranda wines and spirits-kilifi
I must say this is the best micro-finance and most reliable sourcde of small finances to boost businesses.
I have established the car wash and now looking foward to improving its status by purchasing a bigger machine.
Loan repayment has not been a problem as i did this promptly from my small business. Furthermore my small car has a new battery, the car has been of great help running small errands and ding small businesses.
I look forward to a brighter future with Zidisha.
Thanks so much.
Thanks.
Samuel
Apr 6, 2015
Mishomoroni, Kenya
Roofing sheets and accessories supplier
Dear lenders, I am delighted to inform you that you that my business is doing well and the injection of the money from the Zidisha loan has accelerated it's growth.
I managed to stock more wall posters and even introduced sale of text book with very promising results.
Gilbert
Apr 6, 2015
Kericho/sigowet, Kenya
Mobile-phone accessories
Dear lenders....am really grateful for the first loan that you granted me. This changed my life as in it increased my stock of photocopy services which in turn changed my living standard. The first loan that you granted me increased my sales by 20%. Due to high demand in sales and photocopy would like to apply for another loan. Thank you lenders and may God bless you abundantly.
Eric
Apr 6, 2015
Kiambu, Kenya
Purchase of charcoal briquettes machine
Thank you so much lenders for availing funds to ensure the loaning facility is successful. With the previous loan, we managed to purchase more biomass material and also employed one more additional person, by the name Joseph to join our fast growing Charcoal briquette firm.
Archangelo
Apr 5, 2015
Mtwapa, Kenya
Projector for teaching classes at my school of ministry
Hi Zidisha and my lenders.
I am pleased to accept that I am one of the great beneficiaries of the Zidisha program.
I have the students already using the materials and the computer I have bought now is making my work easier by far. I am making the records required by the headquarters of the school of ministry and I am able to access information required easily. Communication now is easier and faster. I am able to record the results as they come forth for the purpose of delivery on daily basis.
Thanks to Zidisha and all the lenders who are like a closely knit family with a goal of lifting the lives of people everywhere.
God bless you so much.
Xavier
Apr 5, 2015
Nairobi Buruburu Estate, Kenya
License, equipment, snacks & fast foods
My daughter Myrla turned one year last month and here she is trying out one of our new products. She is now employed in the family business as a marketing assistant.
Damaris
Apr 5, 2015
Molo, Kenya
Add anti-malaria drugs to pharmacy
Dear to all lenders i take this opportunity to thank you all for your support,am now able to pay for my examination fee and now i feel relaxed,this is such a wonderful place to be.Now i come to you requesting to to allow me to reschedule my loan to a bigger amount as i had promised you last month.
Martha
Apr 5, 2015
Molo, Kenya
Buy food items at wholesale for my provision shop
Dear lenders i kindly take this minute to say a word of thank as you enable my business growth without doubt.I am looking to work with you for better in future,today i come to tell you that i will be paying more as my business is doing fine now.
Jerry Henry
Apr 5, 2015
Kasoa-old Barrier, Ghana
Application for $300 (ghs 938) for inventory for my boutique
Dear zidisha,i thank u for offer that was done me to help grow my business in the form of inventory.By Gods grace business has been very good,especially when i introduced the market to market business to my boutique business.By God's grace today happen to be the last but one week of my repayment,however with the financial strength i have for this week i have decided to add my final repayment of GHS 38 to this week repayment of GHS 32 thereby accumulating to GHS 70.I am doing this to enable me apply for my next credit facility within this week because by God's a colleague business partner is ready to take me to Togo (a country in Africa) to buy my clothings at cheaper prices over there and bring them to Ghana.i believe this move will really grow my business and give me a competitive edge over my competitors because i will have the strategic opportunity to cut my prices slightly to gain more customers.
Thank you very much for this amazing opportunity because it has really impacted my business positively.
Martin
Apr 5, 2015
Molo, Kenya
Fertilizer and seed for planting season
Hello lenders since i got your loan it has been unbelievable to my business.Since i bought the pump am able to sell greens every day and drought is not a threat any more.Money is coming and i can say am able to pay more,thank you all.
Sebastian
Apr 5, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Raising funds for shampoo basins, wash cups & utensils
Thanks alot to the zidisha community for having funded me the loan i was given plus my personal savings has really worked out for me, i bought the required equipments and stocked a new and big premise that i moved in , the business is now picking up very well am sure its growing into a bigger business in the near future. thanks very much for the funds
Lucy
Apr 5, 2015
Molo, Kenya
Small brand new deep freezer for food storage
My lenders i come before today to thank you very much for supporting me.I had reschedule my loan to smaller amount earlier but today as i promised you now i reschedule to bigger amount because my business is doing fine.
Tabitha
Apr 5, 2015
Njoro, Kenya
To buy working beauty products in my salon
Dear my lenders am very thankful for your support,i received your loan and invested fully in my business and at the moment i see a big change in my business because am able to attract more customers hence able to get more profit in future.Now i kindly request you to allow me to reschedule my loan to a smaller amount for only one month as means of grace period,thanks.
Jamila
Apr 5, 2015
Njoro, Kenya
Add more stock and renew license for my shop
I am happy today as i take this opportunity to thank all my lenders for supporting me this far because am able to grow my business this much.Now it's not me who is happy but my entire family.Today i reschedule my loan as i had promised you,thank you for giving me this grace period.
Michael
Apr 5, 2015
Accra, Ghana
Starting a health & wellness business
I thank the entire Zidisha team and my lenders who have shown great love towards me.
I have stocked my boutique with more shirts due to the increase in demand.
I was able to pay my fees on time.
Thank you very very very much ZIDISHA
Ruth
Apr 5, 2015
Kitengela, Kenya
Buy incubator for expansion of poultry farm business
The 1 month old chicks
Fridah
Apr 5, 2015
Kiamthumbi, Meru, Kenya
Buy irrigation equipment for my vegetable farm
Dear lenders,have been very fine with my son and doing very well with my farming.I really upreciated my second loan which helped me to boost my produce and made a profit which helped me to complete my loan confotably.I hope for a successful funding of my next applied loan.thank you all.
Regina Mary
Apr 5, 2015
Nairobi, Kenya
Purchasing an embroidery machine
Hello Lenders, I’m very grateful for loan of Ksh10, 956 that you gave me. The loan has helped me purchase some more stock for my business and I have also started selling trench coats for women and slowly I can see my business expanding. May God bless you as continue to support and uplift us.
The below photo include some of the goods that I managed to add to my stock.
Hesrborn
Apr 5, 2015
Kishagi, Kenya
To preapare the farm and repair the irrigation system
My sincere gratitude goes to all the lenders who gave me the financial boost, my agriculture is on track, i am able to pay fees for my children and meet my needs , i am looking to hire another piece of land else where within the same region, the market is growing and i want to be one of the active players, my vision is to be a strong supplier of local supermarkets,today is Easter holiday and i am with my family and my grand children have also visited me, Thank you
Fridah
Apr 5, 2015
Githurai 45, Kenya
Fruits
Hi my lenders! am very thankful for your funding.In fact the loan received was 100$ which has actually boosted me enormously. I managed to introduce two more varieties of fruits in my grocery at a cost of 100$.I expect to get 50% profit increase out of this expansion.Again thank you for your support and I hope you will always support me.Good luck.
Eric
Apr 4, 2015
Kisii, Kenya
Materials for large client order in welding business
Hi lenders, am working hard to push my business to another level.
Taylor Hanna
Apr 4, 2015
United States
Loan to help maintain supply of mobile services to customers
Dear Lenders,
Last week, a torrential rainstorm in Accra let up just enough for me to make it to the city center, where I met Monica. Monica sells mobile phone recharge cards out of a small booth, just big enough to sit two people comfortably. Although the wooden structure is dark, it is brightened by Monica’s big smile, colorful dress, and the bejeweled butterfly clips in her hair. Located in the heart of the city and right across from the main post office, Monica’s shop sees a lot of traffic. She sells single cards to individuals but many of her customers are regulars and come for big orders of various cards to resell on the roadside or in shops.
I was actually referred to Monica by Vincent, a student at the University of Ghana whom I had met earlier that week. Vincent was one of Monica’s regular customers but was disappointed one day when she didn’t have the cards in stock that he needed. She explained that, buying on credit, she didn’t yet have the capital to pay back her last purchase and restock. He had recently used a Zidisha loan to pay his academic fees, and introduced her to the website.
Since getting started with Zidisha, Monica’s business has transformed. With her first loan, she bought an expanded inventory of cards upfront. Her second loan provided the capital for a big purchase just before Christmas, to take advantage of a regular surge in demand. With the boost she earned from that season, she no longer buys cards on credit, further increasing her profit margin. She is also able to keep her inventory well stocked, and that reliability has attracted a lot of new regulars.
But it’s not just her business that benefits from her loans. Monica is a mother to her twelve-year-old daughter, Caribel, and lives with and cares for her youngest sister, Alice. And with her increased income, Monica has been able to pay for Alice to fulfill her dreams and attend nursing school.
I know Monica is incredibly grateful for the help she has received from Zidisha and her lenders, and hopes to continue to grow her business and support her family. And Monica – thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me. It was a delight!
Taylor
Ghana Country Ambassador
Zidisha
Taylor Hanna
Apr 4, 2015
United States
Materials for hand crafted jewelry
Dear Lenders,
I met Love recently at her home in Kpone, a neighborhood whose name I will probably never learn to properly pronounce, near Tema. She heard about Zidisha from her brother Benjamin last year and has been using loans to supplement her work with beaded jewelry.
Love’s designs incorporate a variety of influences – putting a modern and cosmopolitan twist on traditional African designs. She sources her beads and materials from as far as Nigeria, the Czech Republic, and China, but makes sure to feature traditional Ghanaian beads (like the ones on the bracelets, pictured) in every piece. She says her customers want to wear jewelry that feels modern and at home in the city but that recalls their heritage and, to stay ahead of trends, she gets inspiration online. Her most recent work involves twisting wire from China around African beads in intricate patterns (see images of necklaces).
Love has overcome significant challenges since her husband passed away nine years ago. Suddenly she needed to find a way to support three children as a single mother. So although she had a degree in fashion and worked as a seamstress, she branched out to incorporate and then focus on beadwork. Now the whole, artistically talented family gets involved. Her older children, 23 and 20, have started beadwork themselves. And her youngest daughter, 11-year-old Jasmine, often draws designs that they then create. (You can see some of her other drawings below.)
Zidisha has afforded Love the opportunity to purchase stocks of materials for her designs. Most of her work is made to order and often purchased on credit, with customers paying at the end of the month when they receive their salary. So having the ability to buy extra materials in advance has been a great help to Love’s business as she is putting her youngest child through school.
I know she is incredibly thankful for the support she has received from her lenders and looks forward to growing her business. I recently returned to Tema and was excited to get to visit Love again and purchase some jewelry for myself and family. I also have to credit “Mama Love’s” house as the first place I tried sobolo – a sweet and refreshing drink made with bissap leaves, water, and ginger.
Anyway, Love, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me! It was a pleasure to meet you and Jasmine.
Thank you,
Taylor
Ghana Country Ambassador
Zidisha
Taylor Hanna
Apr 4, 2015
United States
Mini-pharmacy for my community
Dear Lenders,
Edward lives near Cape Coast, a city known for being surrounded by beautiful beaches and haunting colonial forts. But we met recently in Accra where he popped in for a few days to take care of some business.
Edward’s story is nothing short of inspirational. He spent his early years in a charity center, which provided housing for orphans and rehabilitation for troubled youth. But the center lost funding while he was there and could no longer serve as a home or provide funding for many of its residents. Edward was fortunate enough to find a family member to take him in. He was able attend school, excelling at his studies as the assistant school prefect, and graduate.
Edward has always been interested in business but lacked funds to pursue university. So he started to read and study on his own and became interested in entrepreneurship. He began with the idea to open a computer center, but soon he noticed that there was no good pharmacy in his community. And after watching his neighbors have to travel very far in order to get their medicine, he decided to open one up himself.
The first challenge of opening a pharmacy, he told me, was obtaining the proper licenses. But once he had accomplished that, he ran into another difficulty – keeping a stocked inventory. He instantly attracted potential customers but couldn’t always provide them with the exact medicines they were seeking. Although the business had been started so that his neighbors wouldn’t have to travel far for their medicine, all too often he had to send them away on that same journey when he didn’t have what they needed on the shelves.
That’s when a friend introduced Edward to Zidisha. His Zidisha loan provided the upfront capital necessary to keep his inventory full of a wide variety of basic medicines. Finally, he could cater to his community’s needs and didn’t have to turn customers away. The pharmacy has been opened for a year and a half now and is continuing to grow. When we met, Edward was actually in Accra finishing up the paperwork for a license to bill prescription drugs to the National Health Insurance Scheme himself, further easing access to his customers.
Although his focus now is on his current business, once that is established he has his sights set on expansion. He still keeps in touch with a few of his mates from the charity center home, smart individuals but many of whom, he explains, didn’t fare as well as he did. So in the future he hopes to provide one or two with job training and employment in his growing business.
Edward, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me on your trip to Accra. We wish you the best with your pharmacy and look forward to seeing how it grows!
Taylor
Ghana Country Ambassador
Zidisha
Taylor Hanna
Apr 4, 2015
United States
Loan for laptop and school fees for education degree
Dear Lenders,
Last week I finally got to visit the campus of the University of Ghana in Legon, a northern suburb of Accra, where I met with Vincent and a few other students.
Vincent is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in history and archaeology and on track to graduate in 2016. Afterward, he plans to return for his master’s. He especially likes learning about the African diaspora and the chance he gets at university to talk to international students about their experiences. Quiet and thoughtful – he would rather be reading (his favorite author is Chinua Achebe) than at a big party. Of the opportunities for exploration on campus, he says, “Every moment as a student you discover something.”
Vincent has used his Zidisha loans to pay academic fees and recently to purchase a laptop for his studies. Before, his only access to a computer was at the computer center on campus, a good half-hour’s walk away from his residence hall. Now he can do his work anywhere, enabling him to better fit schoolwork into his schedule and more easily work on his projects.
As we talk, he gives me a tour of the university. We start at the centrally located Balme library (pictured), passing through Vincent’s favorite spots to study and the African studies library which displays, behind cases, the University’s collection of old and rare volumes. Outside, attractive white buildings with terracotta roofs make up most of the campus with expansive trees lining the streets, providing shade and a distinctly collegial feel. Finally, we stop by the Kwame Nkrumah Institute of African Studies, one of Vincent’s buildings, and take a look at its museum of Ashanti artifacts.
I know Vincent is grateful for the support he has received from his Zidisha lenders in allowing him to pursue his education and the opportunity to interact with lenders around the world.
Vincent, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me and letting me wander around campus! It was such a pleasure and we wish the best of luck in your studies.
Taylor
Ghana Country Ambassador
Zidisha