We delivered two computers to Ebusyubi primary school yesterday. I will try to post a picture with the headmaster and you can also see one of the tables that was in the container.They were very excited by the donation (we had hordes of kids peering in the windows as we demonstrated the machines.)In addition to checking out the machines & reloading the operating system I loaded one machine with learning games for elementary. The school has just received power and the teachers have been charged with learning to use the computer during the school break in December.
I was able to see the poultry project we set up a couple of years ago in this school. It has had its ups and downs but they have learned a lot and it seems to be recovering. They are now selling some eggs as well as young male birds, so are able to buy feed.
Margaret was there and repaid quite a large sum on her loan. She told us about the young cow she bought with her most recent loan. It will be serviced soon and then she will begin to make money on milk as well as selling the calf.
The two other women are both called Rose. One is in charge of the poultry and also cooks in the school. The other has undergone a transformation. When I first met her she was in rags and seemed to have some difficulty in organizing her thoughts for a business, although she was obviously very intelligent. She dropped out of the micro credit scheme for a while, but has come back in. She is on her second loan and is better dressed and looks much more confident.
I asked all the women to tell me how the business had affected their lives. They all said it had made big changes for them. Margaret is our star but the two Roses are catching up, inspired by her example. Rose the cook is dealing in maize but the margin of profit is very small at the moment. So she took an additional loan to sell telephone scratch cards. This could be quite profitable and we’ll be interested to see how it goes. The other Rose is making and selling charcoal. She is obviously skilled at this and took another small loan to expand the business by buying an additional tree. She says she can sell all she can produce.
While we were chatting, this second Rose broke in with “because of the loans I have a goat!” She said this with great pride and a big smile. Apparently she bought a good quality goat that bears two kids (indigenous goats only have one offspring at a time) She has already sold two kids and is expecting more.
It is most encouraging to see these women start to take charge of their lives and nurture ambitions they never dreamed of. To refresh your memory: I start with about $15 each and we have lost a few. The second loan is about $25 and once they have a good record of paying back I don’t expect them to have completely repaid the first loan before taking more. Margaret went through $15, $25, $80 and has repaid almost half of the $150 for her cow.
The other microcredit group is in Emuhaya. I stopped in and spoke to the chairlady of the group. She says they are doing ok but need to think of other more profitable items to sell. Some were dealing in maize and struggling. A bag of maize is wholesaling for 2,200/- (about $35) and selling for 2,340/-. So the profit right now is very small.
I have posted a picture of the microcredit ladies at Ebusyubi. Rose who sells charcoal is holding the eggs. Margaret is in the red dress.
I was able to see the poultry project we set up a couple of years ago in this school. It has had its ups and downs but they have learned a lot and it seems to be recovering. They are now selling some eggs as well as young male birds, so are able to buy feed.
Margaret was there and repaid quite a large sum on her loan. She told us about the young cow she bought with her most recent loan. It will be serviced soon and then she will begin to make money on milk as well as selling the calf.
The two other women are both called Rose. One is in charge of the poultry and also cooks in the school. The other has undergone a transformation. When I first met her she was in rags and seemed to have some difficulty in organizing her thoughts for a business, although she was obviously very intelligent. She dropped out of the micro credit scheme for a while, but has come back in. She is on her second loan and is better dressed and looks much more confident.
I asked all the women to tell me how the business had affected their lives. They all said it had made big changes for them. Margaret is our star but the two Roses are catching up, inspired by her example. Rose the cook is dealing in maize but the margin of profit is very small at the moment. So she took an additional loan to sell telephone scratch cards. This could be quite profitable and we’ll be interested to see how it goes. The other Rose is making and selling charcoal. She is obviously skilled at this and took another small loan to expand the business by buying an additional tree. She says she can sell all she can produce.
While we were chatting, this second Rose broke in with “because of the loans I have a goat!” She said this with great pride and a big smile. Apparently she bought a good quality goat that bears two kids (indigenous goats only have one offspring at a time) She has already sold two kids and is expecting more.
It is most encouraging to see these women start to take charge of their lives and nurture ambitions they never dreamed of. To refresh your memory: I start with about $15 each and we have lost a few. The second loan is about $25 and once they have a good record of paying back I don’t expect them to have completely repaid the first loan before taking more. Margaret went through $15, $25, $80 and has repaid almost half of the $150 for her cow.
The other microcredit group is in Emuhaya. I stopped in and spoke to the chairlady of the group. She says they are doing ok but need to think of other more profitable items to sell. Some were dealing in maize and struggling. A bag of maize is wholesaling for 2,200/- (about $35) and selling for 2,340/-. So the profit right now is very small.
I have posted a picture of the microcredit ladies at Ebusyubi. Rose who sells charcoal is holding the eggs. Margaret is in the red dress.
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