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Arlene in her food stall

One of the first loans we made almost a year ago, was to Arlene in the Philippines where she runs a food stall, a carinderia.

Here is the update I received:

Arlene Damas grew up in Butuan City, which is in the Caraga Region of the Philippines. She now lives in the town of Lopez Jaena in the Misamis Occidental province with her husband Severino and their three children. They met each other when they were working in Manila City. When they decided to marry, they agreed to live in Severino’s hometown. Arlene’s primary income is from her “carinderia,” a mini eatery. Severino is a carpenter.

Arlene is one of the pioneer Paglaum Coop members. She joined when the program was introduced in Lopez Jaena in 1997. She has taken out five loans with this group.

Arlene lives near Mindanao State University-Lopez Jaena, which offers classes from the primary grades through high school. Many of her customers are students, teachers, and fisherfolks.

With her loan, Arlene increased her food supplies, bought a door lock for the carinderia and a refrigerator so she won’t have to rent a freezer from her neighbor anymore.

Her loan is now 95% repaid.

Tasi Rasch in Samoa

We received an update from one of our loans in the deep Pacific:

Tasi Rasch owns a cattle farm with about 10 cows. She sells her cows to villagers for falavelaves, Samoan feasts. On these occasions, Samoans butcher a cow to celebrate a wedding, throw a birthday party, or mourn a recent death. Large cows cost 1,000 tala (400 USD) and smaller cows cost around 500 tala (200 USD).

Tasi reckons she sells about one cow each month. In addition to her cattle farm, Tasi runs a small plantation with her husband. On their land they grow taro and bananas. Tasi’s loan from South Pacific Business Development (SPBD) was used to buy pesticides, fertilizers, machetes and nails for a new cow pen.

Each week Tasi sells her produce in Apia, the capital city. From their produce, Tasi and her husband earn around 200 tala each week. Tasi hopes to buy a car with her profit from her two businesses.

Sabor and Faryada in Kabul, Afghanistan

A few months ago, we gave a loan of US$50 to Sabor and Faryada Kapysa in Kabul, Afghanistan

Sabor wanted to take a loan for his general store so he could buy the necessary building materials to enlarge his shop.

Faryada wanted to take a loan for her brother’s business as baker who wanted to change his business with a bigger shop.

Sabor reported he bought the materials and finished the rebuilding while Faryada’s brother used the loan to more flour and fire wood for his bakery, increasing his business.

Sandra Elba Rivera and her mother

From Nicaragua:

It has been 10 months since Sandra Elba Rivera first received a Kiva loan, and in that time, her utilities sales business has improved markedly. After recently visiting her to see the micro loan effect on her business, Sandra Elba Rivera expressed to me how much the loan of $275 has helped her broaden her ability to compete with similar businesses in the area.

She has succeeded by increasing profits by 4 -11 % / a modest a modest amount over the course of the loan, primarily through the competitive purchase and sale of utilities Sales products at more cost-efficient prices.

Sandra Elba Rivera would like to personally thank all Kiva lenders who helped her achieve a level of professional success and personal fulfillment unimaginable before receiving a micro loan. She hopes to garner further support from Kiva lenders in future small business endeavors.