Madalitso 3 Credit Group

Madalitso 3 Group from Dowa is a committed group of five small-scale entrepreneurs who are working tirelessly to improve their livelihoods through business. The members operate different ventures, including selling fish, snacks and clothes, and running grocery shops and bakery businesses. Together, they support 18 dependents and continue encouraging one another to grow financially and provide better lives for their families.

Loveness is a 39-year-old married woman and mother of two children. She lives with her husband, who earns a living through farming. Four years ago, Loveness started a bakery business with the aim of creating self-employment and helping her family meet everyday needs.

Her bakery business has become an important source of income for the household, allowing her to contribute toward food, school expenses and other family responsibilities. Even though she has no employees, she works closely with one family member, who helps her with daily bakery operations.

Loveness is determined to expand her business so she can achieve her long-term dreams of building a decent home and giving her children access to quality education. She remains hopeful that, with continued business growth, her family’s future will become more secure.

Loveness plans to use her part of the loan to purchase essential bakery ingredients, including flour, sugar, cooking oil, yeast and other supplies needed to increase production in her bakery.

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 that 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.