Mwanga

Mwanga has 5 members and the majority of them are married. These women engage in snacks, clothes and grocery store businesses. They started these businesses because they wanted to be able to provide for the basic needs of their families and others wanted to be self reliant. To continue with their businesses they have requested a loan of K715,000 (£653.21) that they want to invest in their business by buying more stock.

Sekani aged 56 is a member of Mwanga. She is a married woman whose husband does not work. They have 3 children, 5 orphans and 3 relatives who depend on them. Sekani provides for her family with the profits she gets from her business of a grocery shop. She plans on using her loan share to buy grocery items like sugar and soap. The other members will use their shares to buy stocks of clothes for sale; some will buy flour and cooking oil for their snacks businesses.

The Microloan Foundation in Malawi 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.

If you are lending, please be aware that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic your repayments could be at greater risk of delay or default.