Kambira 8 Group

In Ntchisi, the Kambira 8 Group is working together to build stronger and more reliable incomes through small businesses. The group is made up of five married members who collectively support 15 children. Their enterprises include fish trading, groceries, clothes and snack production, through which they all aim to improve their livelihoods and provide for their families.

Bertha (35) is married to a businessperson and has four dependents. She makes and sells snacks and will use her loan to buy ingredients such as flour, cooking oil, baking powder, yeast, sugar, salt, and eggs to increase her production and income.

With four years of experience, Bertha has built a steady business that also provides employment to one person. This loan will help her expand her operations and move closer to her goals of keeping livestock and eventually buying a car to support her business.

As part of Kambira 8, Bertha benefits from the shared support and accountability of her group members. They encourage one another and work together to ensure progress for all, meaning the loan not only supports Bertha but also uplifts the entire group and the families who depend on them.

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.