I met Kossoua outside the market in Atakpamé on March 23rd 2012. She had taken a loan to enable her to buy beans and maize in bulk from a village called Assanti Akpare and she re-sells them to traders in a market in Atakpamé on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. On the other days she ravels to buy more stock. This has been a difficult year as the price of beans and maize has been fluctuating. However the loan has allowed her to make an average of £130 profit per month. I asked Kossoua how business would have been if she hadn't had the loan and she said "if you don't have a loan it is like a farmer going to his field without a hoe". When I asked whether she felt optimistic about her future she said "yes, she believes that God has good plans for her life". Tracey Horner March 2012