Empower 600 Women in Ghana with Microcredit Loans

Last month, we shared with you how we're getting creative to listen to the needs of the women we serve in Nkawie, and adapting our programs to ensure we're best meeting their needs.  Read about how women in Nkawie appealed for a special loan exception here. 

We interviewed some of the women who process palm oil at John's facility in Nkawie to find out what access to micro-loans and the ability to earn their own source of income means to them.  Here's what they said:  

Esther: 
“Before I began working with Self-Help, it was a problem to buy palm fruits to process. I had to buy the palm fruits in small, small quantities, which is more expensive than buying in bulk. Now, with the loans, I am able to buy in bulk so I keep more of the proceeds. I use my profits to pay school fees to keep two of my children in senior high school.” 

Nasak: 
“The loans have been very helpful. If you work hard, you can secure a better future for your children. I am able to feed and school my children, and still continue my business. I don’t want my children to suffer the way I have, so I am very grateful.” 

Ndgo: 
“When my brother died, I took in his two children. Two of my grandchildren also live with us. I am able to feed all four of them and pay all of their school fees. Without Self-Help, none of that would be possible.” 

Abena: 
“I have six children: two are married and out of the house, one just finished high school, and three are in primary school. Ever since I joined the micro-credit program, I have had no difficulty paying school fees. The daughter who just graduated has started a poultry business, so we are getting more protein in our diets. And we own our own home, we don’t rent. I am very proud.” 

Alimatu:
“I have one child in high school, and use my proceeds to pay the school fees. Then my other child was in a car accident, and I had many expenses for the healthcare. If not for Self-Help, my business would not have survived. I would have had to sell everything to pay for the medical care, and then I would have been left with no way of supporting my family. But because of this micro-credit program, my business survived and I’m able to continue providing for my children.”

Dinah: 
“Thanks to the micro-loans, I am able to pay school fees to keep my children in school. My business is stable. Having a regular source of income gives me peace of mind. My dream is that one day, I will be able to afford to send my children abroad to continue their education.” 

Little by little, each one of these women have made vast improvements in their family's quality of life, turning $50 loans into education, health, and peace of mind. Little by little, we all make a difference. Thank you for giving them this opportunity!  

***Matching opportunity: April 9 - 13***
GlobalGiving will match your gift of up to $50 at 50% as part of their "Little by Little" Campaign. That means that your gift of $50 will fund a $75 micro-loan for a woman in Nkawie! Bonus: start a monthly recurring gift this week and it will be matched 100%! Act now to take advantage of making your impact go even further - this week only. 

While the vast majority of Self-Help’s micro-credit loans are issued to women, there are times when we make exceptions to best serve the needs of the women we serve. In Nkawie, we were issuing micro-loans to women who process palm oil as their primary source of income. By processing at a mechanized facility, they could process four times as much palm oil as by using traditional methods. They used the loans to purchase the palm fruits and pay the processing facility before selling the oil at the local market, and found it to be a very good source of income. Word spread, and the number of customers patronizing the facility increased.

Three years ago, the women came to us with a challenge: there were so many of them patronizing the processing facility that it was getting too crowded. The wait times for machinery were too long and were affecting their profits. They requested that we issue a loan to the owner of the facility, John, so he could purchase more equipment so they could process faster, and extend the roofing so they could continue to work safely even when it rained. No one wanted to be responsible for the machinery operation or maintenance herself, each preferring to instead focus on processing, and they liked that the fee they paid covered that maintenance. They insisted that John charged a fair price for them to use the processing facility and they trusted him and his wife, Comfort to use the loan as intended. So we met with John and Comfort to find out more.  

John and Comfort have six children: Rabi, Prince, Christina, Akosua, Kwaku, and Beskus. All of his children are enrolled in school. Alongside the oil processing he farms as well, growing rice and quality protein maize. His wife is a trader and she also helps him in the palm oil processing business. We explained how the micro-loan works and expectations for repayment, and John submitted a loan request detailing how he would use the funding. Based on his business plan and demonstrated customer satisfaction, we decided to make exception and issue him a business expansion loan that has become a wonderful partnership for both John and the women we serve.

When John started his business about ten years ago, he had just five customers. Today, he has three employees including himself, and he serves 36 customers with hopes to grow more. Customers pay weekly based on the number of batches of palm oil they’ve processed using the equipment at the facility. He reports his income at about 200 GHC (~$50 USD) every week.

“Three years ago I met Self-Help International and my life turned around,” John said. “The organization helped me attain most of the working tools. I used to use manpower and it wasn’t good for my health. And, because my equipment was inadequate, it delayed the processing.

“I started this business with a lot of challenges and did not have enough money to fund it. Self-Help International helped me obtain new and more effective equipment through the loan I received from them. I was given a loan to expand my shed for the women to have a place to sit and work. Part of the loan was used to purchase roofing and the rest was given to me to purchase wood and other materials for the shed, which now serves as a place for the women during work hours and rest periods. I was also given another loan to purchase two screw presses for palm oil extraction. My current loan was used to acquire a multipurpose oil extractor which my processing business more efficient and profitable.

“This has helped increase productivity. This motivated me to advertise Self-Help to others making them know how reliable and effective the organization is, and that they're ready to help others improve their businesses also. I’m very grateful to Self-Help International and really do appreciate all that they have done for me.”

Thank you for your support of women-owned businesses, as well as the facilities they rely upon for their sources of income, to allow them to generate income and better feed their families!

Today is International Women’s Day! To celebrate, GlobalGiving is matching donations made to our partner project, Stop 125 Teen Girls in Ghana from Missing School, up to $250 per donor! Every donation counts - literally - if we have the most funds raised OR most unique donors, there is a bonus as well! Maximize your impact by making a donation today!

Links:

• Visit our sister project to empower teen girls in Ghana