2010 - Stories of Women Who Have Received Micro Loans from Power of Love
Gloria Danti
Gloria Danti is a 66 year old widow who supports five of her own children and three grand children. Two of her grand children are HIV positive and one of them is on ARV’s. After Gloria received a loan from the Power of Love Foundation she became a first time business owner. Gloria started a vegetable stand with the loan and her business (about 3 months old) is doing well at this time.
Naomi Musoni
Naomi Musoni is a widow, 68 years old and is sharing her living space with her four children and five orphans (who lost their parents as a result of HIV/AIDS) as she is their only surviving relative. Fortunately, none of the children are HIV positive. Before Naomi received a loan from the Power of Love Foundation, she had no source of income and relied on the Church and her neighbors to support the orphaned children. With the loan money, Naomi started a vegetable and dried fish stand. Even though this is her first business venture, her business is doing well because of the business training she received prior to receiving the loan. At present, her learning curve is steep as she is learning new ways to stabilize her business to earn a steady income and is able to feed her family at least two meals a day.
Christine Simwinga
Christine Simwinga is 48 years old, a widow and lives with her six children of which two are HIV positive. Before she received a loan from the Power of Love Foundation, she was supporting her family by washing clothes in the neighborhood. Christine was having a hard time as income from washing clothes was not steady and on several days she and her family would go hungry as there was no money to buy food. In March 2010, Christine received business training and a small loan from Power of Love and started a fruit stand (mainly bananas at present). As a result of the loan, her income has stabilized and she is able to feed her family at least two meals every day.
Iren Mbasa
Iren Mbasa is a 38 year old, single mom with five children and her youngest child is HIV positive and on medication. Iren had started a business in 2008 but could not continue as her fourth child (who died in early 2009) needed her constant care and attention. With the loan received from the Power of Love Foundation, she has started a business that sells vegetables, popcorn and footwear. Her small store is doing well and she is now able to provide three meals a day for her family.
Winne Lubinda
Winne Lubinda is a widow, 44 years old and lives with her five children of which one is HIV positive. After she received a loan from the Power of Love Foundation, she started a mobile food stand selling a Zambian delicacy called “Chikanda” or African Polony. Winne’s business has been successful and with the profits from the business she has been able to pay school fees for her second child in addition to food for the family.
Jenny Masiliso
Jenny Masiliso is 50 years old and is supporting five nieces/nephews who are orphans as she lost her sisters to HIV/AIDS and she is the only living relative. Two of the children are HIV positive. With the loan received from Power of Love, Jenny has started a vegetable stand that sells tomatoes, onions, and beans. Jenny and the children live in a small one roomed house, but are happy with the income from the business as they are now able to eat three meals a day.
Mary Chonde
Mary Chonde is 43 years old and a single mom with three children, of which one is HIV positive. After she received business training and a loan from the Power of Love Foundation she started a roadside vegetable and fruit stand. With the profits from her business she has been able to move from a one-room to a two-room living space as she is also caring for two elderly people. In addition, the loan is helping her provide 2 meals to the family as opposed to the one meal they were able to eat before she received the loan.
