I am a Kenyan named David Gichane and as the first-born, I had challenges while growing up in the rural area. My parents suffered the election violence twice but the most devastating one was during 2007-2008 post election clashes. Despite losing all properties, my family never lost hope on education. The desire to peruse education to liberate my family from poverty saw me assist my mother in the grocery business. I managed to emerge the first in the final exams at my local primary school and well-wisher were happy to support me join a secondary school With the help of well-wishers, I managed to complete my secondary education and obtain a grade to join a public college. Due to the pressure from my siblings to get at least secondary education, my parents are not able to raise all my basic educational needs because they are still living in poverty. In order to supplement the funds received from my parents; I put up a small grocery, which I run in the evenings and early hours of the day. The business has been picking up and it is now able to cater for my upkeep and house rent. I am determined to make a difference by building my parents a house after staying in the internally displaced camp for almost five years just to ensure I remained in school.

I run a grocery kiosk where I sell vegetables, fruits and fast moving items such as sweets and mobile phone airtime. I selected this type of business since I had experience after helping my mother run her grocery in the shopping center back at home. The location of my business comprises of people work on casual jobs and they leave early in the morning only to return in evening. The working pattern of the residents makes my business to gain profits since I amble to run it when I am through with college work. Since a road that used to be very dusty in our estate was recently tarmacked, there is a sharp increase in population and that positions my business to earn more profit. I earn gross revenue of between $5 to $12 a day. Since my shed is very valuable to the heat from sun I usual do not display the vegetables 6 pm so than my customer can get them fresh. I spend the profits from the business to pay for rent, upkeep and save at least $2. I target to save enough money to pay for own tuition so that my parents can educate my younger siblings.

Dear zidisha lenders,

Am requesting a loan to purchase iron sheets improve the kiosk structure and fruits and vegetable stock so that it can be able to cater for the increasing demand form new customers. The loan will help to increase the stock of fruits and vegetables at a cost of $45. I will buy four iron sheets, nails, four posts and rafters at a cost $40. The $10 will be used to pay for construction labor. The expansion will enlarge my business and I will be able to work even during rainy or sunny season. I will also hire one assistant and be able to work up to 10:00 pm hence making much profit since at this time there are many customers. With this expansion, funded by your generous loan I'm targeting to triple my profit. I am a strong believer in business instead of waiting for donations or handouts. May God bless you.