Takondwera 3 Group

In Balaka, the Takondwera 3 Group is a hardworking and determined collective of small business owners involved in a variety of trading activities, including groceries, clothing, fish, vegetables and rice sales.

The group is made up of five members, two of whom are married and three divorced, all united by a shared commitment to improving their livelihoods. Together, the group members support 11 dependants while continuing to strengthen household incomes and build resilience within their community.

One of the members is Chifundo, a 26-year-old married woman whose husband is a businessman. She runs a small-scale enterprise that includes selling snacks, operating a grocery stall and trading in beans and rice. Over the past four years, she has steadily expanded her business through hard work, determination and the occasional support of two family members. Through her efforts, she supports her two children as well as three additional relatives, helping to maintain stability within her household.

Chifundo started her business with the goal of improving her family’s living conditions and creating a reliable source of income for the future. Over time, she has gained valuable experience in managing fast-moving food products and essential household goods that are consistently in demand within her community. Looking ahead, she hopes to purchase land and build a home that will provide long-term security for her family.

The group loan will support the Takondwera 3 Group in expanding and strengthening their trading activities. The funds will be used to purchase additional stock for grocery items, clothing, fish, vegetables, rice and other essential goods, allowing the group members to better meet customer demand and grow their businesses.

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.