Workforce Empowerment in Sierra Leone

It is with great joy that I share the story of Isata.  Thanks to your support, we together have helped to enhance her business and improve the standard of living of her family.

Madam Isata is an illiterate petty trader, who has never had the opportunity to attend any educational institution. She lives in Bo, Sierra Leone.  She has nine children (3 boys and 6 girls). Isata struggles to educate her children. The eldest child is preparing for his public (WASCE) examination. The school costs including books, school fees, uniforms are burdensome on Isata. The father of her children is alive, but he is an additional burden to the nine children as his salary as low rank police officer is a pittance for the maintenance of the family.

Isata is engaged in cookery sale (cooked rice, foofoo, boiled cassava and beans) as an income generating activity to take care of her family and educate her nine children. Isata makes a profit of Le 50,000 (about $12) per day.  She carries out her business in a rented shack for which she pays about $4 per month. Isata has been in this business for five years. Originally, each day due to lack of money, Isata would buy the food items in small quantities (rice by cup, palm oil by pint, fish by measure, etc.) to sustain her business. The low profit margin put the sustainability of her business at a high risk.  Isata therefore needed micro finance to expand her business,  by buying rice by bag, palm oil by bata (five – gallon container, fish by basket, etc.) to maximize profit, which she could plough back into the business for sustainability as well as being  able to take good care of her children.   

Thanks to the funds donated, Isata received an interest-free loan and has been able to buy her cooking supplies at wholesale - which has immediately increased her bottom line.  She is very grateful to Develop Africa and all GlobalGiving donors for supporting her with micro finance to enhance her business and improve the standard of living of her family.  Thanks so much for your support!

Make a Donation Today -  Great Way to Help Change Lives:  Giving towards microfinance is a great way to help small businesses grow and become independent.  Study after study confirms this and we have together been able to strengthen many businesses.  Your donations are making a definite difference and positive impact to the lives of women and families.  By donating to this project - you are doing the greatest good and bringing permanent change!  Its heart-warming to have this opportunity to help influence destinies and we welcome your on-going support.   Together we can empower many more women / small businesses.

Warm greetings:

We would like to share with you 2 specific points that are of note - as follows:

1.  We are continually encouraged by the steady progress that our microfinance beneficiaries are making.  Loan repayments are on schedule for the majority and the funds have introduced income stability and progress.

2.  The Bo women's group of recipients are working together as a team - more than we have ever experienced before. Typically, the beneficiaries meet periodically to discuss progress - but the Bo group is a lot more cohesive.  They existed as a group before funding and have continued to be self-supporting - chipping in and helping each other through cycles of labor need. 

During my visit in May, I observed them at work together, as they helped fill packets of water.  They also spend time regularly discussing progress, issues and challenges.  This approach has helped them succeed in the midst of a "tight" economy.  This is a key improvement opportunity that we are sharing with other beneficiaries.  Team work does make a difference. As the saying goes - this group, united is standing strong.

Worldwide, we are all a part of this team as we have significantly contributed through our donations to their success.  Their success is our success and we celebrate and thank you for your on-going support.