Luhono 7 Group

In Rumphi, the five women of Luhono Group 5 are using enterprise to build livelihoods for their families. All five members are married and together support 20 children. Their activities include selling clothes, snacks, vegetables, tomatoes and farm products, as well as farming and running grocery stores. Through these businesses, the women are working to meet their families' everyday needs while creating opportunities for greater financial stability.

Among them is 40-year-old Sekani, a married mother of five who has been running her grocery store for 15 years. She started the business to earn an income that would help her provide basic needs for her family. Over the years, she has gained valuable experience in the trade and has continued to manage the business independently, without an employee or family member assisting her.

Sekani plans to use her loan as additional capital for her grocery store. The funds will help her purchase more stock and keep a wider range of goods available to her customers. After 15 years of running the business, she now hopes to take another important step by opening a second shop. Expanding her business could give her access to more customers and create an additional source of income for her household.

The loan will support Sekani's plans while also giving the other members of Luhono Group 5 access to capital for their own businesses and farming activities. Each member can invest according to her needs, whether purchasing stock, strengthening agricultural activities or developing an existing enterprise. By supporting the group as a whole, the loan can help strengthen several household livelihoods at once and contribute to the wellbeing of the 20 children 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.