Shahnoza Zuhurova

Zuhurova Shahnoza is 29-years old and married with one young child. For more than five years, Shahnoza has been running her own business. She has a small saloon where she sells and rents both traditional and national wedding dresses. Traditionally families in Tajikistan are large so consequently there are lots of marriages and Shahnoza has a lot of clients. The stability of her business allows her to make a considerable contribution to the family income. This is her third loan with Kiva partner IMON International. During the previous loan cycle she was accurate and precise in the loan payments. Shahnoza is requesting 5,000 Somoni ($1150 USD) to purchase newer styles of wedding dresses.

More about Tajikistan and IMON International

Tajikistan is known for its rich history, which includes a key post along the Silk Road and the end of Alexander the Great's rule. It has also produced great thinkers, philosophers, scientists and poets, including Rudaki, Avicenna, Ferdowsi, Omar Khayyam, Jomi, and Rumi. The country is home to communities that still speak the ancient Sogdian language, epic mountain passes, and a civilization that dates back to the 4th millennium BC. Today, it is a complex mixture of the Islamic faith, Soviet culture, New West culture and Central Asian traditions.

Tajikistan is also the poorest of the former Soviet republics. The civil war, which ignited soon after its independence from the U.S.S.R., damaged an already weak economy. In addition, 93% of the country is mountainous and only 7% of the land is arable. These conditions have resulted in high levels of unemployment and have forced hundreds of thousands to seek work in other countries, mainly Russia. While the people of Tajikistan are working to improve its agricultural production and manufacturing sector, nearly two-thirds of the population still lives in abject poverty.

IMON's History

Since December 2007, IMON International has worked closely with Kiva and Kiva lenders to ensure that poor and low income clients represent a viable business proposition. Funds raised through Kiva have already been distributed to thousands of IMON International's clients and will continue to provide thousands more with permanent access to the varied financial services they need. To learn more about IMON International's work, please visit: www.imon.tj

Subscribe