On 3rd June 2012 we met Odette Guedenon in Benin. It is difficult to believe that she sells all of her products from the side of the road. She is 54 years old and has taken out eight loans from the microfinance organisation ACFB to run her business. Odette used to make a living for herself by weaving shopping bags, that due to their strength were very popular in the community, although each one took her up to two days to make. However, as she got older she started to get back problems so she had to stop – she decided she needed to start another business, which thanks to the loans has been steadily growing ever since. Each time she takes out a new loan, she expands into a new product – this time rice and gari. Emma Howard, Dr Ajaz Ahmed Khan & Roblania da-Costa, 3rd June 2012