One Entrepreneur's Passion for Animals

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to meet with Ameth Seck, one of Zidisha's newest borrowers. He received his first loan in April, enabling him to increase his chicken raising business. He purchased ten chicks at one day old. He raised, fed, and medicated them for 45 days, from when he sold them for 2,500 XOF to 3,000 XOF each ($5-$6) to gain a small profit. Contagiously smiling from when I first shook his hand, I knew Ameth was a very unique and forward thinking individual. His passion for animals was evident in the way he described what he did and his future plans.

Even though the commencing loan is small, Ameth is already thinking ahead about what he will do to expand his production capabilities. He showed us with eagerness his plans to add cupboards around he two rooms to hold even more chickens. He also wishes to add an automated water reservoir to add not  only to the number of chickens he can have at one time but also minimize the number of times a day he needs to give them water.

Ameth's passion for animals was evident in how he described what he does .He has two dogs which he raised and trained himself who respond to his commands in Wolof (my eyes went wide when this happened). He also showed us an old aquarium he owns which he said he would one day like to fill with water to have fish to raise and sell. Ameth's forward thinking is a quality unique among entrepreneurs, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to have the chance meet him.