Clothing & Accessory Boutique

1. Springs of Africa Micro Finance Faith Fund (SAMf3) is all about transforming lives and helping make dreams come true. In our effort to bring social and economic empowerment to our people, we can look back and appreciate all that has been achieved over the years.
   

2. Mary Wanjiru received a loan of US $ 133 ≈ Kshs. 10,000 for the expansion of her boutique business. It is located along a busy road in the Kawangware region of Nairobi, where very high human traffic means she is accessible to many customers. Mary shares how SAMf3 has helped her succeed: “[it] is a unique financial institution because they genuinely care. It is nurturing micro business, small business and all types of business.” She explains that with the loan she received, she was able to add a variety of products which attracts more customers. “My ambition is to meet the needs of my customers,” she adds.

Convenience Store

1. Livingstone Sabwa is a 50 year old business man living in the slums of Kibera. He heard about SAMf3 in February 2008 after post election violence brought down his small retail shop. Like many other businesses destroyed during the violence, Livingstone’s business was no exception. He had given up and wanted to return to his rural home with no hope for a source of sustainable income.
   

2. After receiving a small grant and some training ready to go at it with a  new sense of hope and purpose. Livingstone then decided to apply for a $420 loan in order to increase his assets and stock. In one year, he repaid the entire loan, and is looking forward to taking another loan.
   

3. He suggests that if the program is expanded, it can help many people, including his friends whom he does business with. Banks charge a very high interest rate and require a high level of security, making it very difficult for small businesses to meet these standards. Thus the SAMf3 micro-finance is a very welcome opportunity for business success.
   

Hair Salon & Barbershop

1. Irene is one person among many who believes in the SAMf3 vision that we can fight poverty by giving somebody a hand up instead of a hand out. With the $120 that she borrowed from SAMf3, Irene started a hair salon and barber shop. Irene’s day starts at 6.00 am. After sending her children to a nearby school, she proceeds to her shop. Her business is doing well.  “I anticipate that my business is going to grow gradually and make a reasonable profit, which will enable me to provide employment to the unemployed. My vision is to see this beauty shop becoming a training college in the future,” she said.
   

2. Irene explains that her biggest challenge is the stiff competition. With the modern slogan for business “survival for the fittest,” Irene has needed to try new tactics for getting customers in order to compete effectively. “The training on business management I received from SAMf3 has really helped me in this area.” Like other members of SAMf3, Irene is paying her loan back and with the income leftover, she is able to pay the school fees for her children and take care of other family needs.

Internet Cafe & Business Services shop

James and Truphosa Mwendwa have invested their loan from SAMf3 in a diverse business that is meeting the growing technological needs of the town of Machakos in Ukambani District of Kenya. They have purchased a photocopier, printer, spiral binding machine, laminator, and have expanded to four computer workstations.

The business is picking up relatively slowly, but their location in town is perfect for a business of this type. It has taken time to develop a customer base and gain regular clientele.  A major challenge is the unreliability of the internet service providers. This is not unique to the Mwenda’s business, however. There are times when the entire region is without internet access for days or weeks. This is when the realities of third-world development – or lack of it – can be felt very keenly. But James and Truphosa are confident that as they serve their customers faithfully, the business will also grow and become stable.

Agriculture business & Motorcycle Taxi Service

David Musyoka is a farmer, and a very hard working one. He used the loan from SAMf3 to expand his dairy business. With the funds received, he has been able to construct a cow shed. Previously he had two dairy cows which were both healthy and producing.  But the ongoing drought in Ukambani region has had severe impact on his business. Due to the strains of heat and lack of water, one cow died just before David received the SAMf3 loan. The loan was crucial for re-establishing the business and bringing it to a place of financial self-sustainability.

David’s  one cow and one calf are now doing well. The cow is producing a maximum quantity of milk that is also of good quality.

David also decided to “diversify,” his interests, and invested some of the loan money in a motorcycle to be used as a taxi.  The taxi works from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except for Sundays, when David uses the motorcycle to facilitate his work as a pastor.

Butchery

1. Gabriel Buruno, a small business owner in Nairobi, says business has been good since he got a loan from SAMF3 that boosted his butchery business.
   

2. He wanted to purchase a mincing machine and freezer, but could not imagine where he would be able to get the funds that were required. Some of his customers would request for minced meat and because he didn’t have a mincer, he lost that business as they would go to find it elsewhere. It is then that a friend of him told him about SAMf3.
   

3. Gabriel contacted SAMf3 but was not sure whether his business would be considered or not. He explains, “I went and explained my challenge to the loan officer, and within just a few days, they called to inform me that they had approved the loan. I was very happy as things would have been really bad because I was losing customers slowly by slowly.” Gabriel’s business is doing very well after he purchased the extra equipment. He is paying his loan promptly and in few months he will clear it.
   

4. Gabriel adds that he admires the way SAMf3 works. “It is the first company I have seen with very friendly staff, people who really listen to your problems and genuinely work to solve them. In the future, he adds “I would like to continue to work with SAMf3; they are worthy partners.”

Charcoal Sales

1. Mary Lavoga is one of our faithful clients who received a small loan of Kshs 10,000 ($135) to boost her charcoal business. With this loan, Mary bought bags of charcoal and she was able to convert her business from being only retail to giving both retail and wholesale service. Her business is located in the densely populated Kibera slum of Nairobi. Since she started to sell the charcoal in wholesale, business has improved and profits have increased.
   

2. Her business is now in a better position to duplicate itself elsewhere, as this is her future goal. She could start a retail branch in another location.
   

3. Mary vividly recalls how SAMf3 has helped enhance her family’s life. She is now able to meet the needs of her family such as daily food provision and school fees for her children. We are very pleased that she is paying her loan promptly.
   

4. Mary is grateful to SAMf3 for financing her through a small loan and also for teaching on business management.