Zidisha | Project Updates

Project Updates

The latest updates from projects made possible by our global community.

Elizabeth · Kasoa, Ghana

Feb 14, 2015

Happy valentines day to all of you Lenders and have a bless day.

John · Kahawa West, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

I want to thank Zidisha and more so my lenders for trusting me and giving me their money to use. The money has ensured that my business runs smoothly even in this usually hard period that is the beginning of the year when I have to fulfill a number of obligations, like payment of school fees, etc. The money has enabled me to maintain my stock and use the profits to pay my side expenses. If Zidisha had not assisted me, I am sure I could have spent my working capital on personal expenses and therefore run down my business. THANK YOU so much for your assistance.

El Hadji Daouda · Dakar, Senegal

Feb 14, 2015

Hello all Glad to receive the first computer I bought with the loans used as an advance. to pay for it. Thank you again comment image

Mardiana · Sungguminasa, Gowa, Indonesia

Feb 14, 2015

Thank you Julia for your visit to Makassar. We are very pleased to have the opportunity visit. Hopefully other times could come again to Makassar. Thank you very much comment image

Rael · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

So glad this happened! I got hone and spread my new materials over the table! comment image

Rael · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

I got these selections and a magazine and a chart. comment image

Yvonne · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

Hallo my zidisha family.just want to wish you a happy valentines day today.may you enjoy it and have a great time with your loved ones.have a good day.

Max · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

Products that I sell. comment image

Obed · Nakuru, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

AT THE OFFICE comment image

John · Kahawa West, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

I take this opportunity to thank zidisha for making our dream come true ,we had no money to buy dewormers but we thank zidisha for giving us funds for dewormers,since then our milk production has increased greatly,each cow has increase an average of two litres of milk,this means maximum profits,I thank my wife for being with me and giving me hope no matter tha situations,I end by thanking all zidisha members for I know they have taken another step in their life,God bless zidisha,God bless you all.

Antony · Nairobi Umoja Estate, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

Happy Valentine day everyone in Zidisha community. These are special word which you people diserves. Thanks for the love you are spending to the world.

Niva · Lodwar, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

Thanks all Who Participated to my progress. My business is booming! comment image

Kerry Tiedeman · United States

Feb 14, 2015

I had the opportunity to meet with Corsmas yesterday at his office near downtown Nairobi. There he spends his 9-5 or really 8-6 day job working as a manager for a transportation company. However in his off time he works on his own businesses, one where he sells bricks and the other he is the owner of his own bus service. He is very thankful for Zidisha lenders, since with the loans over the past year he has been able to repair his bus or "matatu" as it is called here. However after some time even the repairs were not enough to keep the old bus going, so he has sold it. Now he plans on buying a new bus hopefully with the help of Zidisha lenders. We went to the car yard where he showed me the bus he would like to purchase, and below are some photos. Corsmas is one of the few borrowers I have met that was actually born and raised in Nairobi, though he still has strong ties to his parents' hometown in Kisumu County, around six hours from Nairobi. He is proud of his roots, which are of the Luo tribe, known to be great fishermen living on Lake Victoria. This is also the tribe of Barack Obama's father and Corsmas boasted that from his father's house he can walk down the road to get to Obama's grandmother's house where she still lives. This is also where his brick business operates from with the help of his partner and brother. They make the bricks manually with a recipe of soil, water and sun to dry them. Corsmas even lived in his village for a while twenty years ago, running in orphanage from his home. Now he is looking forward to retiring from his career and pursuing his businesses with the help of Zidisha. The profits of his businesses will help him have a secure retirement and help out his youngest daughter with her education. He has four children total, two of which are working in Qatar. With his guidance all of his children are doing very well and so are the Zidisha members he mentors. In his free time Corsmas likes to watch football especially his team, Manchester United, and dance. He invited me to listen to some live music downtown at the Princess Hotel. Of course I accepted! comment image

Edgar · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 14, 2015

The website http://edgar.co.ke/ is my own design made and hand coded in every bit. it is fully responsive and fits all major known screen resolutions I made a portfolio section to show case some of my works mostly those on my public repository at https:// github.com/edgar4 Them migrated and merged my blog into the site i am now self hosting for the blog comment image

Nelson · Accra, Ghana

Feb 14, 2015

satisfaction comment image

Nelson · Accra, Ghana

Feb 14, 2015

hi lenders, thanks for the support comment image

Rael · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

Here's me buying comment image

Ophelia · Berekum, Ghana

Feb 13, 2015

Pictures of my progress comment image

Ophelia · Berekum, Ghana

Feb 13, 2015

for your kindest support,in fact you have really impacted my project. I am now experiencing tremendrous growth in my business and finances. I was able to buy the mushroom grow bags, Oyster mushroom spawn and make the shelves to accomodate more compost mushroom bags. Attached to this are pictures to show my progress. Thank you very much. comment image

Margaret · Kahawa, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

Thanks ZIDISHA TEAM, Now I will dress my clients smart. comment image

Patrick · Githurai 45, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

Team, Tahnk you, Now I know, I can grow and impact my neighborhood with freshness. comment image

Duncan · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

I am very grateful for the loan advancement. With the amount of money I received I was able to fund my websites. I am an online entrepreneur and the money I received I used 90% of it on boosting my social media ads. These Ads add value to my websites as they grant me more exposure. The more exposed they are, the more product/service I move. Through the adds and its only been four days, I have already seen a significant increase of organic traffic to my site and pretty soon I will start making sales.

Gnazanga Mahama · Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

Feb 13, 2015

Merci de recevoir ici, quelques images réaliser a votre attention comment image

Dennis · Kapsoya, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

Dear Lenders, Attached is the daily record for February 2015 till 13th today. Improvement of business can be seen.So far I have banked 6119/=, quite an improvement this February. Kindly see and advice me. comment image

Godfrey · Meru, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

My new dairy heifer comment image

Winifred · Danfa-accra, Ghana

Feb 13, 2015

This is how far your contribution has brought me... thanks comment image

Grace · Nairobi-kahawa Wedani, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

that's me in another angle comment image

Jane · Meru, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

@sunnyB28, hi sunny am doing good still at though i dont get too much rest as you think,this life need too much effort for someone to excell,in fact for the last two day have been moving around from my work place to town at least to fix up the business down fall for these those have been not around,the knee was quit paining but i had to bear the pain and move on , my daughter went to a boarding school so she will be back on half term which might be mind of next month that the time we will be seeing each other,though she will be coming only for two days then till the holdy in April which goes for three weeks. thanks so much for your concern be blessed and have a lovely valentines.

Allan · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

Hallo dear lenders.I am very grateful to have this opportunity to show you my business adventures.please if you fund me I will not let you down.here is a picture of my client contented with my clothes. comment image

Gadaffi · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

my business products. comment image

Gadaffi · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 13, 2015

My current stock comment image

Janet · Nairobi Kenya, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

Thank you to all zidisha and lending persons. Just bought five new plastic chairs worth $80 comment image

Paul · Kawangware, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

Thankyou zdisha hope you will remember me. comment image

Kerry Tiedeman · United States

Feb 12, 2015

I had a fantastic experience visiting Samuel today at his home and small store in a neighborhood of Nairobi. I visited both Samuel and his cousin, Dauglas (they share a grandfather) who is his mentor as well. These cousins stick together. Since Dauglas is looking to move out of the neighborhood he is in, Samuel has given him a place to stay as well as storage space for his business computer. Samuel is a warm and caring guy. He is thrilled over the dramatic difference he has seen in his livelihood thanks to the loans from Zidisha lenders that have allowed him to invest in his store which sells DVDs and music CDs that he is able to burn from the internet. He has also been able to purchase a printer so he can book events as a photographer. He printed a couple of photos for me while he was there. One of which was picture of his 7 month old baby girl, Gloria. I was fortunate enough to meet her since Samuel so graciously welcomed me into his home, upstairs from the DVD shop. I also met his lovely wife Janet who sliced some mango for us during the visit. For his dad, Samuel was supposed to be a doctor. However with the help of his cousin Dauglas, he was able to convince him to help in getting his degree in electronic engineering. Samuel's father was such an advocate for his education that when times were really tough he sold a piece of his land, so Samuel could continue his studies in Nairobi. Samuel is the eldest of six children, and he has inspired his younger siblings who are also gifted in mathematics. LIke Dauglas, Samuel is optimistic. WIth the help of Zidisha he has seen his profits multiply and he one day hopes to rent a bigger space for his business which will guaranttee a bright future for his baby girl. I can say after being lucky enough to play with her today, she is definitely worth it! comment image

Kerry Tiedeman · United States

Feb 12, 2015

Today I had the opportunity to meet with Dauglas, a production entrepreneur that specializes in documenting special events like weddings, graduations, funerals etc. with camera and video. He lives in Kanwaglare currently but searching for a new home in a different of neighborhood due to a difficult landlord. Dauglas is optimistic. I met him along with a newer borrower to Zidisha, Samuel Omgongi. They are actually cousins, they share and grandfather and are both from a small village outside Nairobi. Dauglas moved here first in 2006 to pursure his college education in communication. Samuel followed, inspired by his cousin, and studied electrical engineering. Dauglas helped convince Samuel's father to allow Samuel to study engineering, since his father was set on Samuel becoming a doctor. These cousins stick closely together, and while Dauglas is looking for a new location to set up shop, he stays with Samuel. Dauglas has a wife, who he met at a church event and a 4 month old baby boy Ramsey who he named after a beloved television character because of the character's morality and what he stood for. Dauglas' shop in his old neighborhood specialized in printing, but though that one is temporarily closed he still continues production assignments. He wanted to show me the new camera that Zidisha lenders helped him buy, but his one employee was using it to capture a special event in another part of town. Dauglas is also grateful to Zidisha because the profits that he has acquired with the new camera have allowed to pay for a significant portion of his master's program that he is currently in. He is also teaching Swahili and communication at the downtown University. I may even solicit his teachings in Swahili. He is approachable and very warm. During my visit Dauglas and Samuel invited me into their home, bought me a soda, offered me mango, and let me play with Samuel's baby girl, Gloria. They even have children only three months apart. Dauglas hopes that with continued loans from Zidisha, he will be able to build a studio and start a radio station with his wife, a computer engineer and a borrower of Zidisha. She currently owns and runs a food store. As Dauglas says "the Ocean started with a single drop" so the future is promising. I look forward to listening to that radio station one day, and hopefully by that time I will understand Swahili. Attached are pictures of some of his photography work and our visit! comment image

Christine · Mombasa, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

Thank you zidisha lenders for giving me a loan that enabled me to expand my business. I used the money to buy an assortment of mobile phone accessories and this increased my sales drastically. I even started selling mobile phones which had been my dream for a long time.

Sebastian · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

At my business premise comment image

Salim · Kericho, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

I have completed the house and broughtin the improved kienyeji chicken am very hopeful that the productions will improve hopeful tomrrow I will update u with the photos .my kids arerealy happy about the support that i got from you and we also manage to add a dairy cow which is giving us 10 litres of milk and we sell to our neighbours and get money to suppport the family project .thanx very much my lenders and i will repay promptly INSHALLAH

Amos · Mtwapa, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

Hi my lenders. Attached is a T-shirt designed special for Valentines.. I have managed to sell a few. Wish you all a happy memorable day.BACK. ....WHAT A GOOD DAY..... Front ....WITH LOVE comment image

Kotime · Sunyani, Ghana

Feb 12, 2015

Orange business comment image

Antony · Nairobi Umoja Estate, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

Hello jane. Its my hope you are doing well. Am sure you will be back to your business soon. my twins were also admitted at nkubu hospital on Friday but they are recoveng. I hope to see them out very soon. Otherwise, have a nice day. This is our photo taken last month when I visited them at home. comment image

Didink. K · Kabupaten Bantaeng, Indonesia

Feb 12, 2015

Julia Kurnia (Director Zidhisa) and Didink. K. DT (volunteer Mentor) picture together while on location in the Red Rock District of Pa'jukukang Pa'lingan Bantaeng. Mrs. Julia Kurnia has visited all members and prospective members Zidhisa in the district Bantaeng and partly in the district Jeneponto. Hopefully Zidhisa always successful in developing a vision and mission to help the world as a facilitator for funders to get loans with very low interest or no interest and the borrower always maintain trust with the aim of creating a change in improving welfare.

Yvonne · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

Here is a customer so contented with my hair works. comment image

Samuel · Mazeras, Kenya, Kenya

Feb 12, 2015

@pavane, It's been a while since I read from you. I now miss you dearly :-) . Please throw me an email I confirm you are doing okay in kungsbacka/Sweden! Thanx. yours, Shehi. comment image

Dennis Furr · United Kingdom

Feb 11, 2015

I'm happy for you that your vehicle is back in service and the impact to your business has been relieved. Many of us take for granted the reliability of our vehicles but from time to time we have to face the prospect of expensive repairs. It can be unpleasant, at least until you drive it for the first time afterwards then it's easy to forget again.

Joshua · Berekum, Ghana

Feb 11, 2015

WOW THANK YOU ZIDISHA FOR THE LOAN. EVEN THOUGH THE MONEY WAS NOT ENOUGH, I HAVE BEING ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF VETERINARY SERVICES. THANKS TO MY LENDERS. I LOVE YOU ALL comment image

Rael · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 11, 2015

Me and my family... comment image

Rael · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 11, 2015

Me and my family and some of my work in my studio.... comment image

Shadrack · Nairobi, Kenya

Feb 11, 2015

I went downtown today and got a nice 8 litre pump and most of my materials...polythene, netting, string and insecticide to keep away spider mites and foliar fertilizer to boost root development. The netting will keep away the caterpillars. Next is to fetch the poles Friday morning and begin construction. Tomorrow I get to harvest some ripened tomatoes before spraying! comment image

Kerry Tiedeman · United States

Feb 11, 2015

Yesterday I had the privilege of meeting Isaac, a young entrepreneur working in Kawangware, a neighborhood of Nairobi. Isaac embodies the spirit of an entrepreneur. He is smart, driven, persistant and very well dressed. These qualities are why at only the age of 30 he operates a team of six motorcycle taxis or "piki pikis" as they are known here. He is also the chairman of New Tuinuane, a group of community businessman that meet weekly to network and combine resources to receive higher bank loans. Tuinuane translates to "helping each other" in Swahili. While loans from local banks have helped him with the purchase of the motorcycles, he hopes that with the help of Zidisha and the benefit of far lower interest rates, he will be able to purchase spare parts in order to repair his fleet of motorcycles. Isaac is originally from Busia, where his wife who works as a teacher, and young children still live. He moved to Nairobi 12 years ago, working first as a security guard. After saving enough money he began his business in 2007 with the purchase of 2 motorcycles. For Isaac, nothing is more important than family. He often takes the 9 hour bus ride to return home and spend time with them, sometimes he even takes one of his motorcycles. All the profits from his business go back to his family, primarily the children's education and building their family home. The spare parts will allow Isaac to have security that his motorcycles stay in good condition, which when riding the crazy dirt roads of Nairobi, vehicles easily can become beyond the point of repair. When I was ready to go, Isaac generously offered me a ride home with one of his "piki piki" drivers. As I settled into my seat behind the driver, he jumped on behind me, so he could escort me home. Yes that is just the type of guy he is. Here are some photos of our day! One is with Dickson, a Another zidisha borrower! comment image

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