Kanono Group 1

This is a group loan to the Kanono women who are based in the Kasama district Northern part of Zambia. The group has a membership of 5 women aged between 30 and 44 years. These women are married and some widows, these women have children who go to school and they care for 17 children including orphans. The women of this group run small scale businesses like poultry, tailoring shops, market and grocery stalls. The women have their businesses to support and reduce dependency on their husbands.

One member of the group of this group is Fridah Shula, she is 37 years old, married with five children. Four of her children go to school. Fridah has set up a tailoring shop at her home. She makes clothes for ladies mostly and children. She has been doing the business for 6 years and she currently gets help from her family members with the day to day in running her business.

The Microloan Foundation in Zambia lend to female entrepreneurs using the ‘centre’ model. A centre is typically made up of 3-4 sub-groups and these sub-groups almost always have five members. Each centre has its own name and the sub-groups within the centre share the same name. Each person within the group of five women is responsible for repaying her loan but the members support each other and if a member is unable to repay her loan on time, then the group assumes responsibility for repayment. Loan officers provide training to the groups, although it is expected that centre leaders will eventually assume responsibility for providing some of the basic training.

Please note that Zambia is currently experiencing acute food insecurity and water shortages due to the worst drought the country has experienced in nearly 40 years. At this time there is an additional risk that some of the loans from Zambia might be delayed or defaulted. You can find more information here.