Mphatso 2 Group

The Mphatso 2 group, comprising five women who support 18 children, primarily focuses on growing Irish potatoes to generate income. The proceeds from their farming enable them to cover their children’s education and other essential household expenses.

Lucia, a 51-year-old married woman from the Mphatso 2 group in Ntcheu district, is a dedicated farmer who has been cultivating Irish potatoes for the past two years. With two children to support, she began farming as a way to provide her family with enough food and create a better future for her children. The group has now sought a loan to purchase vital agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and labour. These investments will improve the quality of their Irish potato crops, leading to higher yields. With an increased yield, they will be able to sell their produce at better prices, boosting their profits and enabling them to support their families more effectively. Lucia and the group are hopeful that this loan will help them further grow their businesses, secure better futures for their children, and contribute to the prosperity of their community.

The Microloan Foundation, Lendwithcare's local partner in Malawi employs a unique 'centre' model for lending to female entrepreneurs. A centre comprises several sub-groups which share the same name as the centre. As such, you may have seen similarly named group loans from Malawi all belonging to the same centre. In this system, each woman is individually responsible for repaying her loan, but the group offers mutual support by assuming overall responsibility together.