Ndeh Joseph Awah

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Ndeh Joseph Awah by GHAPE in Cameroon. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 24 months, GHAPE will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Joseph has made all of his payments on time and is very happy with the loan that he received from Kiva through the non profit organization Grounded and Holistic Approach to People's Empowerment. GHAPE applies an innovative and multifaceted approach to poverty alleviation in Cameroon.

Joseph sells firewood in 'motos' or trucks. He goes into the 'bush' to buy the firewood; he can purchase 12 bundles for 10,000 CFA ($21.50 USD). He then splits the wood and takes it in trucks to sell at the market in Bamenda. Each truck holds about 1.5 bundles and he can sell one 'moto' for 2,000 CFA ($4.30 USD). If he sells all his firewood, he can make 24,000 CFA, a profit of 14,000 CFA ($30 USD).

Joseph also buys some things to sell, such as coloured nuts and palm wine. He buys the wine from a supplier for 1500 to 2000 CFA ($3.20 to $4.30 USD) for 20 litres. He then sells the wind by the litre for 1,100 CFA ($2.37 USD). He can sell around 20 litres per week, making 22,000 CFA ($47.31 USD) and a profit of around 20,000 CFA ($43 USD).

He has three children: an eight year old, a five year old and a baby. The eight year old is in the Baptist Hospital about an hour outside of town. He pays 165,000 CFA ($355 USD) per year for the hospital to treat her and train her to learn, write and read; she is mute.

Joseph has experienced many changes in his life since receiving loans. He says "I do feeling with my family and keeping them good," many clients develop much stronger bonds with their family after undergoing training on gender equality and family dynamics. He thanks Kiva and GHAPE for helping him to help his family and hopes to take out another loan after this one to continue his businesses.

About GHAPE:

GHAPE clients are required to join groups of five for both support, as well as to cross guarantee one another's loans. Clients also undergo training throughout their time with GHAPE. The first training sessions occurs before a client is given his or her loan; the sessions focus on business management, finance skills, starting an income generating activity, basic health practices, gender mainstreaming, group dynamics and understanding GHAPE policies. The second session of training occurs after a client has successfully repaid their first loan. This session focuses on understanding different possibilities for income generating activities, marketing and management techniques, expansion and growth, profit and loss accounting, and gender issues. Ideas and experiences are exchanged between entrepreneurs, while GHAPE credit assistants offer suggestions and direct the sessions. The following phases of training focus on business and marketing techniques, project cycles, fundraising, financial markets and problems faced and potential solutions.

GHAPE also requires clients to make small payments towards their personal savings. The required minimum for savings is quite small; however, most clients choose to save much more than the minimum requirement. Clients then have access to this savings account in case of any sort emergency. Clients of GHAPE also have access to the revolving "Emergency Fund". Each center has access to 40,000 CFA for this fund; in case of emergency or for health reasons, a client can request a sum from this account. GHAPE allows the clients one month to pay it back with no interest. This fund has helped many clients pay hospital fees and pay school fees when they may not have the savings to do so.

GHAPE tries to instil a sense of community within its centers; upon entering a room, one must say "If we are together," to which all clients reply "We are one." If one of the clients passes away, it is mandatory for all clients in the deceased center to attend the funeral. GHAPE believes that ignorance is one of the key contributors to poverty and attempts to remove this ignorance from all of its clients. This is done through training sessions on business management, health, education, importance of family and gender empowerment, as well as through the bi monthly meetings where clients discuss health, business and family issues with one another. The clients of GHAPE are always very grateful for their loans; however it is the training sessions, center meetings, and group support that allows the clients to invest their loans profitably and improve their living standards.

Joseph is a sweet man, spending his working day chopping wood and selling palm wine. A while back he was hit by a speeding okada (motorbike) on a highway where most people walk from village to village. That has left his with a hurt arm and leg. Swinging the axe for him is demanding work. He recently spoke with me about his loan. Here is how it went.

Ashley King-Bischof | KF7

GHAPE | Grounded and Holistic Approach for People's Empowerment