Micro Loans

Two members of the super 30 women’s micro-loan project work on their sewing.

The Micro Financing Process

Future in Our Hands USA  helps to provide micro loans for women who need capital to start or enlarge income- generating activities in Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.  Micro loans of up to $600 are provided on a revolving basis for a term of three months. The loans are paid back weekly at a low interest rate.

Goals of the Micro Loan Program

• 1) To encourage group savings and management for the benefit of members
• 2) To provide seed money as a revolving fund among group members

Examples of Projects Funded by Micro Loans

Tailoring Businesses

The groups are hard working with long hours. Some of the women’s groups take in young apprentices and teach them tailoring. Usually much of the tailoring is done to make school uniforms.

Pharmacies

Some of the women’s groups sell medicines in the rural areas. This provides income for the group and aide for the sick villagers.

People gather around the newly built pharmacy in Kolouch Village in Kisumu

Chair Rental Businesses

The Kotur group purchased a few dozen plastic chairs. They rent them out for funerals or weddings as an income generating activity.

Dairy Cow Project

Five widows with HIV/AIDS from the Village of Usoma formed a support group and joined the micro-loan project. They requested and received funding from FIOH-USA in 2011 to purchase an impregnated dairy cow and  start an income generating  project that would provide income and nourishing milk for their families.

Isabella, the dairy cow funded through FIOH-USA enjoying fresh grass. She has birthed two calves so far.

Fresh milk from the cow being poured into a pan to make Kenyan tea, Yum!

Since drinking the protein filled milk the children have been healthier and have not missed school due to illness.

With their earnings they have purchased a second  cow and a total of three calves have been birthed so far.  They hope to each have their own cow and then give the next female born to another village  connected with FIOH-Kenya in order to keep the progress going and growing.