By Alka Subramanian | Executive Director
Thanks for helping empower women impacted by HIV and AIDS in Zambia. Today we would like you to meet Judy, who has benefitted from your support over the past year.
Judy is an inspiration: Judy started selling peanut butter at a roadside stand after she received her first loan in November 2016. Within a few weeks she had to move her stand as she did not have a license to sell on the road. She then started a home delivery business as her customers liked her product. However, she faced increased competition as more women in her area started making and selling peanut butter. Judy worked hard to keep her lead in the market. At present, Judy’s business is doing well, and she is saving a small amount every week. She attributes her success to the business training she completed before she received a loan to start a business. For 2018, she plans to diversify into electrical appliances and flasks to supplement her peanut butter business. She is confident about her skills, thankful for the opportunity to own a business, and feels empowered as she can provide three meals to her family, pay for school expenses and rent. She is an inspiration to us and has become a mentor and role model for others in the community.
With hard work and dedication, Judy has helped us achieve the goals of our micro loans program. Our goals are to empower women by (i) providing them with the tools to run a successful business, (ii) ensuring that they have gathered enough capital and skills to continue running the business even after graduating from the program, (iii) helping them build networks of mutual support, and (iv) teaching them how to prevent HIV and take care of their HIV+ family members.
Impact: Earnings from businesses started with loans enable women to pay for food, rent, school, and medicines for their family. In addition, improved knowledge about HIV prevention and care keeps the family healthy so the children miss fewer days from school. Finally, most women in our micro loans program learn how to run a business, save, and build strong social networks which help overcome challenges at home or in business.
Thank you for encouraging hundreds of women like Judy take steps toward financial literacy and independence. Your support goes a long way in creating a stronger more self-reliant community in Zambia.
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