Akouvi took her first loan through lendwithcare in September 2011 which she repaid and then took another loan in May 2013 (this loan had been disbursed by our partner WAGES in March 2013). I visited Akouvi in April 2013 - the first thing I noticed was how impossible it was to get away from the smoke that stings your eyes as soon as you get anywhere near Akouvi's stall. I can’t imagine what it must be like to work so close to this smoke all day, every day. Akouvi first fries and then smokes the fish that she buys from a wholesaler in town. The fish would have originally come from the sea in either Lomé, Morocco or Senegal. She started this business twenty years ago on a very small scale. It was only when our partner, WAGES opened a branch that she was able to expand her business through small loans, this has made a big difference. Akouvi told me “it feels good to be able to build my own house, hire staff to increase revenue and I now have money for when my three children are sick.” Without these loans she would have to buy less fish and get a worse price and therefore make less profit. She is also able to buy oil in bulk too. Akouvi also told me "this is a young person’s job, it makes you old”. Her dream is to have a fish import shop like the one she buys from so younger women can buy from her.
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