Client: Marita Masitala
Group: Tayamba
Village: Malingula 2
Branch: Mulanje
Marita is a new member of the Tayamba (“we have begun”) group, and she started taking loans ten weeks ago. She saw the improvements in the lives of her friends who were members, and wanted to join so she could have similar success.
Her first loan was for MK 5000 (US$ 120), which she is using to sell matemba, small, dried fish that are considered a delicious snack. She sells the fish from her house or she will go down to the maize mill when there are a lot of people gathered. She started her business with this loan. Previously, she was working for someone else, but the loan has given her the opportunity to have her own business.“My life has changed because I can now afford things I could not before.” She can now always ensure that her family has enough food to eat. They also have pigs and goats and can afford to keep them fed too.
Marita has seen the success so far with her loan, and intends to continue taking loans. She wants to establish herself in the group so she can start taking larger loans and grow her business. With the training that has been provided, she has learned how to work hard so she can succeed with her repayments. “I now know not to just take the money, but to make sure I invest in my business.” She has become self-reliant and no longer has to ask her neighbors or relatives for salt, sugar, or other daily items. Her children are in primary school, but she also intends to use her savings to help pay for them to go to secondary school one day, and eventually college.
best of luck