March.26.2018

KIVA Project Update: March 2018

 
This month, I received this “journal” update for our loan to Sylvia who just finished paying back her full loan:

Sylvia used the loan to add stock in her retail shop. Since then, she is able to meet all her customers’ demands, thereby increasing her sales and income. She sends her gratitude to the funders for sustaining her business that has improved her family’s livelihood.

New loans made:

Silia is a 30 year old mother of 3 from Samoa. She owns and operates a small business, selling Elei printing materials at the market to earn a living. She has been doing this for more than 3 years. Silia needs a loan to buy rolling materials, paint colors, paint brushes, Elei designs, containers and printing machines, to assist her to run the business.

Through the organization responsible for administration of this loan, she will be provided with financial literacy training and will be offered market – specific guidance throughout her loan period. Her loan of $400 will be repaid over the next 14 months.
 

Tabitha is 38 years old and has 4 children. She is a group leader and is representing her group formed by 16 farmers in Sirisia District, Kenya. Tabitha has been farming with One Acre Fund for years now, having joined the program for the first time in 2012. This decision was largely a result of her desire to have access to quality training and acquire new farming methods and, although she described her last harvest as very good, she believes she could have a better one this year by continuing to work alongside One Acre Fund.

Tabitha also decided to purchase a solar light as part of her loan, which she is very excited about, as it will allow her to have light during dark hours for her children to be able to study.

Obtaining this loan of $1,625 means that Tabitha’s Group will be able to receive a total of 13 solar lights as well as farming inputs to plant a total of 14.25 acres. It will be repayable at the end of the 10 month term.

 
 
I encourage you to visit Kiva’s website and see the various ways you can make a difference for these women, either by starting your own account or by contributing to the BPW account via Kiva Card at https://www.kiva.org/gifts/kiva-cards.

Lisa Steinhilber
BPW Saskatoon Advocacy Director