My name is Lucy Gatobu. I grew up in the Meru rural area. After I finished my form four, I came to Nairobi City to do my diploma in Information Technology with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and I am now pursuing a BSc. in Information Technology.
Life has never been easy. I started my business so that I could pay my school fees, since there are other siblings behind me and they are still in school and I am the second born. Even with my degree, I could have graduated in 2013 but I had to take a break to look for money then go back. I started my first business, a kiosk, when I was 19 years old in order to survive while I was doing my diploma.
The unique thing about the area where my business is that it is located within Nairobi University and my clients are students. I am always updated with technology since my customers are the digital generation.
I have a daughter who is 10 years old and she would like to be architect when she grows up. She is also very smart in mathematics and designing. My unique hobby is reading the bible so serious, as if I am going to do an exam.
That [in one of the photos] is my daughter: she is in grade 5 at Agah Khan Junior School Nairobi. She is the one who lenders paid for her trip and she was very happy. Thank you very much, lenders.
My business is a cyber cafe that is located within the University of Nairobi. The business sells goods like photocopy papers, all types of envelops and stationary.
The services my business offers: typing, printing, photocopying, binding, scanning, Internet and computer maintenance.
These goods and services are in a very high demand since the students require them for smoother learning. They will always need to photocopy the notes, books, typing of the assignments and also internet usage.
On average, the business operations on a costs of 18,000.00 Kenya shillings with a monthly sales of between 30,000-45,000. The profit margins are at 100,000.00 shillings. The loan will be invested into the business to buy more cyber equipment like a photocopy machine and improving working conditions and environment.
I hereby thank you very much for the support you have given me and my family. I would like to borrow more loan but this time i will use the loan to pay my fees for my education. I am pursuing degree in Bachelor of Science in information technology am in my final year. This money will help me so much since i had started my degree 2009 and due to lack of finance i dropped out when i was in my final year. I have two semester remaining which i have paid 40,000 thousand shillings and the balance which is 40,000 thousand shillings because per semester i pay 80,000 thousand shillings. After i graduate i will be able to secure a good job for me and also achieve my dream. I did my diploma for information technology from Jomo Kenyatta University of agriculture and technology in 2007. Thank you and God bless you.