Over a year ago, HerBusiness raised funds to support entrepreneurs in developing countries through Kiva, an organisation that provides micro-loans. Members contributed donations through a silent auction and a series of business webinars. We recently reinvested the funds that had been repaid by those who had received our original funding. Here are the stories and profiles of the latest recipients of ABN member support. I share their stories here to demonstrate the parallel between business owners in all countries. Our circumstances may differ (immensely) but our spirit and our goals are often similar. Education, inspiration and networking and connections are the common elements to our success regardless of our location.
SAYDA MELANIA
STORE OWNER
Sayda Melania is married and has a small store in her home. Her sales provide her gratification since she has a considerable number of customers and satisfactory income. With the help of her husband, she has been able to move forward with determination, hard work, and dedication. Her loan requested will be granted so that she can buy basic grains, candy, detergents, bread, and cookies. Her wish is to increase the number of customers that she serves.
HILARIA
ARTISAN WOOL PRODUCTS
At 42 years old, Hilaria is the mother of two children who are already independent. She works selling artisanal products, which she distributes from her home. She is also learning about the production of these crafts in all their possible varieties so that she herself can create them and increase her profit margins. She began making woven wool products such as sweaters, hats, gloves, etc. Hoping one day to have a store, she plans to learn more about artisanal work and use the current loan to buy artisanal crafts to sell. Her biggest dream is to have and rent out her own store and a mototaxi.
LILA
BEAUTY PRODUCTS
Lila, 52, is an enterprising woman who works tirelessly to accomplish her dreams. She is single and lives with her sister in her sister’s home. For 4 years she has been selling beauty products, like her sister. The way she works is that she acquires the products from a well-known cosmetics company and offers them through catalogs to her friends and neighbors. They prefer these products because of their good quality and low price. Part of the advantage Lila has is that she knows the products well, and can suggest to the customers which cosmetics they should choose, and in this way she earns her customer’s loyalty.
FLORA
CONVENIENCE STORE
Flora Idania Chow Castillo, 31, is married with two children who study. This mother has managed a convenience store for three years. With her earnings she contributes to household costs, as her husband is a soldier and his earnings are low. Her business is located in an area where there are only two convenience stores; this means that she has many customers and has good sales. She is requesting a small loan, which will be used to buy the following basic grains and materials to keep her business going.
MARIBELOU
RETAIL STORE
Maribelou Tadle, from the village of Southern Pob. Plaridel Misamis Occidental, is 38 years old and separated from her spouse. To make a living, Maribelou owns and operates a specialised retail store selling clothing and shoe products, lotion, cologne, etc. in the local community. She is requesting a loan to purchase additional products to sell and to keep her business growing.
KHALILOVA
CLOTHING STORE
Khalilova Yakshikhanim is a 50-year-old woman who sells men’s clothes in a small village of Agsu city. She started her business in 2010 and her monthly profit is already 150-200 AZN. She is very successful in her business as she has very good taste in choosing men’s clothes. She is married and has six children. Yakshikhanim started her business because she went on a pension in 2009 and lost her only source of income. She believes that one day she could build her own shop.
You can make a donation at kiva.org. Or, if you would like us to invest with Kiva on your behalf contact us at info@abn.org.au and we can include you with our next round of support. TheHerBusiness community initiatives have raised over $40,000 in donations to support women around the world.
