Attaya

At Zidisha Senegal, we work hard to bring our clients the best service that we can. Sometimes we need to rest with friends, enjoy some good conversation, and drink some attaya. Attaya has to be one of my favorite pastimes in Senegal. It is a tea that is made in three stages, each one getting progressively sweeter by adding more sugar. After a late lunch, it is common to see people brewing attaya in their small tea pots to share with friends and family. I especially like sharing attaya with family and good friends.

Client Spotlight: Andre Mbar Tine

Here is the story I wrote about our client, Andre Mbar Tine, in Dakar:

Dear Lenders,

My name is Paige Klunk, and I am currently a Client Relationship Manager in Dakar. I met with Andre last week in his home in Parcelles Assaines. Andre has been a member of Zidisha for three years. He is currently repaying his second loan and serves as a Coach Bénévole. He lives in Parcelles Assaines Unité 16 with his wife and son.

Andre works in the business of selling alcohol from his home. He knows red wine is undoubtedly the most popular with the Senegalese. He often imports red wine from Guinea Bissau because it is less expensive.  He imports five cartons of red wine at a time which comes with twelve bottles in a carton. Andre pays 15,000 XOF for the carton plus the transportation, which is roughly 3,500 XOF. The total cost is for each carton is 18,500 XOF. If the carton arrives safely in Dakar, he can resell each bottle for 2,000 XOF. Each carton he sells for a total of 24,000 XOF. Andre says the returns are minimal right now but he is optimistic with his future endeavors.

Andre is currently in the process of obtaining a license to sell liquor. Even though it is a lengthy process, he affirms that in time he will reap from the benefits. After obtaining the license, he is planning to open a boutique nearby his home. Once he opens the boutique, he knows his revenues will increase. His plans do not stop with having his own boutique, he also wishes to start his own taxi business.

Andre could not say thanks enough for what the Zidisha loan has done for him and his family. Investment in his entrepreneurial activities, Andre explained has allowed him to be able cover family expenditures that they were unable to cover previously. Not only has it increased his family's financial capacity but it has provided Andre with the personal satisfaction of working autonomously. He said he could not praise Zidisha lenders enough for giving him with the opportunity to start his own business and work for himself.

Sincerely,

Paige Klunk

Senegal Client Relationship Manager

Zidisha Inc

Andre sitting in his living room.

Andre's apartment building in Pacelles Assaines Unite 16.

Zidisha's Program Sustainability in Senegal

One overarching goal of my summer is finding ways to make our program more sustainable in Senegal. One way we are able to accomplish this is by training local volunteers who live in country and who are passionate about Zidisha's mission and willing to give their time to find others who will benefit from our program. At the same time these mentors are here to coach and help those who are facing financial difficulties in the repayment of their loans. Our Coach Benevole program is designed to give fiscal incentive to those who are willing to above and beyond just borrowing from our system to dedicating their time to helping others. Last Friday we welcomed our newest member to our Coach Benevole program, Cheikh Mountaga Sall (who also goes by Babacar).

Members like Babacar are truly the future of Zidisha and will leave their imprint not only on our community but will also have their part in the global movement against unemployment. Photo credit goes to my colleague, Miriam Frost.

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.

Eco-friendly Products Presentation

Two days last week I had the pleasure of traveling with our Coach Benevole, Ndate Dieng, as she gave her presentation of the SEM fund products.

This stove uses a sustainable biomass that is actually grown locally in Senegal. The SEM fund planted 27,000 of the trees themselves with a local field partner. Small pieces of the wood are put in a small chamber in the bottom of the stove. This is a safer stove than the charcoal stoves that are popularly used in Senegal because it emits fewer indoor air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and particulates.

Ndate holding the stove during her presentation.

This is the EcoSac, which is actually manufactured locally by another Zidisha member! If you partially cook a meal, you can take the pot off the stove and put it in the EcoSac, which will finish cooking it for you. This can also be used as temporary refrigeration.

 

This was one of the group of participants in one of the presentations that Ndate gave. At the second presentation, she successfully sold a stove and one of the solar powered lamps. I only look forward to continuing to follow Ndate's success!

A Day in Gorom with AFAO.

Last Friday I had the unique opportunity to see the AFAO Senegal factory where women work transforming  agricultural products and create local yummy juices, like bissap and many others.

This is the outside of the factory in Gorom. It was about a two hour bus ride outside of Dakar.

This is the juice stand located in the profile picture of Mme. Magatte Fall, who I wrote about in my last blog post. Her loans have helped fund the juice stand. Her latest loan bought a freezer to store her juices.

The neighborhood surrounding the factory. It was very quaint, set out in the country. I was fortunate enough to travel there with our Coach Benevole, Ndate Dieng, who is also a member of AFAO.

 

I had the pleasure of being presented to the President of AFAO Senegal, Khady Fall. Here she is pictured with several other members of AFAO Senegal.

The interior of the factory where the women ground local agricultural products.

Pictured above with a few packages of the ground corn and couscous. To my right is our Coach Benevole, Ndate.

Tropical Juices

Here is a copy of the story I wrote on Mme. Magatte Fall's Zidisha profile page:

My name is Paige Klunk, and I am currently a Client Relationship Manager for Zidisha in Senegal. Yesterday, Miriam and I had the opportunity to meet Mme. Magatte Fall at the office of AFAO in Dakar. She met us in front of the building with a warm smile and gentle wave, leading us upstairs to her fifth floor office.

Mme. Fall is currently on her second loan with Zidisha. Her first loan enabled her to commence her business of making juices, and with her second loan she was able to expand by buying a freezer to store the juices she makes. The freezer was a great success! Mme. Fall's business has doubled.

The benefits of Mme. Fall's loans are evident in how she supports her family and her local community. She mentioned she was able to pay a full year's tuition for her son, who just past his baccalaureate exam! Not only does her family benefit but she supports the sustainability of her association as well. Women who are members of the association actually buy juices and other goods from her to resell.

While discussing the success of her business, Mme. Fall was also very eager to talk about her full-time work. Mme. Fall is Technician of Health at AFAO Senegal, also known as WAWA (West African Women's Association) in English. She travels often to rural areas to educate about the prevention of diseases, such as malaria and AIDs. AFAO also gives women the formative and educational tools they need to be successful in their trade. Mme. Fall proudly showed us several of the pamphlets that AFAO uses, ranging from topics on how to package local foods for resale to pamphlets educating on importing goods through customs.

Mme. Fall's success has not only benefited her family but her local community as well. She is very motivated with her work with AFAO and is proud of the success of her business. Miriam and I had a pleasant visit with Mme. Fall, and I only look forward to the next time I can visit to see how Mme. Fall's work has continued to progress.

Sincerely,
Paige Klunk
Senegal Client Relationship Manager
Zidisha

 
Edit: Here are the photos, finally! So sorry for the delay. Credit goes to my colleague, Miriam Frost.

Here Magatte is pictured on the left with her colleague Ndate Dieng, who is also a member of AFAO.

Proudly holding the jars of vegetables canned and packaged by AFAO members.