Joyce Mbowa

Joyce Mbowa is a Patchwork and Embroidery designer specializing in wall hangings of flowers, animals, birds, and persons. She joined Life in Africa 2 years ago and she has since then been a very active member of the WE Center. She has passed on her skills to some of the members of the Center and she is actually the best person one would ever want to work with.

She has developed a good reputation with many International families living in Kampala and they have become customers. She has a stall near her home where she hangs and displays her work but she also does many hangings by special order for her customers. She is now in a good position to expand her business since the demand for her products is now more than what she can produce herself.. And in doing this she will be able to offer jobs to one or two other LiA members to assist her in the production process.

To fund this expansion Joyce is seeking a loan in the amount of 800,000us. This will purchase enough materials to complete 100 wall hangings. These will be sold from her stall, at bazaars and at exhibitions as well as to her current client base. With the addition of some hired help, she will be able to complete the 100 hangings in four months.

Below is her budget of what she needs to buy.

• Item/ Quantity/ Cost/ Total
• Poly Viscose. White 30 Metres x 4000 = 120000
• Poly Viscose. Cream 30 Metres x 4000 =120000
• Poly Viscose. Army Color 30 Metres x 4000 =120000
• Cotton White 90 Metres x 1500 =135000
• Cotton Cream 90 Metres x 1500 =135000
• Cotton Brown 90 Metres x 1500 =135000
• Cotton Green 10 Metres x 150 =15000
• Transport 20000

Total 800000

According to Joyce's current income, she will be able to repay the loan in 12 months. She has designated the community impact portion of the interest she pays to support Life in Africa's Internet4Change Team, who need more computers so they can better help Joyce to sell some of her patchworks online.

Read more about Joyce at http://joycembowa.blogspot.com/