Ahmadiyya Primary School, Six Mile Group

These are teachers from a primary school in Six Mile village, about 26 miles from Freetown. They have come to SMT, a partner of Shine on Sierra Leone, to seek a loan in order to meet their immediate financial needs. Because teachers’ salaries are usually small, many of them find alternative means of making a living. Some engage in businesses and in agriculture, while others organize extra classes for the pupils (though this is a practice the government is trying to abolish).

These teachers seek a loan in order to embark on meaningful projects, such buying of a plot of land, starting/completing the building of a house, paying school fees for either their children or for themselves to pursue further studies, buying furniture, etc. Gradually, out of their monthly salaries, they will repay their SMT/Kiva loan.

Andrew (third from right) is a senior teacher at the school and head of this group. He is 43. He was born in Yoni small town, in northern Sierra Leone. He married a businesswoman and they have six children – two in secondary schools and two in primary schools. Mr. Kamara has been teaching for 19 years. He will use part of the loan to pay school fees for his children, as schools are reopening pretty soon. He will also use part of the loan to repair his house and buy food for the family.




About Group Loans
In a group loan, each member of the group receives an individual loan but is part of a group of individuals bound by a group guarantee. Under this arrangement, each member of the group supports one another and is responsible for paying back the loans of their fellow group members if someone is delinquent or defaults. Learn more

Subscribe