Idd Jamvi

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to IDD JAMVI by Youth Self Employment Foundation in Tanzania. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the next 3 - 6 months, Youth Self Employment Foundation will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Idd Jamvi’s used clothing business is continuing to grow, thanks in part to the loan money from Kiva. I had a chance to visit with Idd when he came to make his loan payment at the Vituka community bank meeting place in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Idd shared with me that he had used the money to purchase a sewing machine for his business. He now has three sewing machines to repair used clothes and sew new, tailored clothes. His business is seasonal; the busiest times are from January to April.

Idd explained that he goes to the Karikoo market in downtown Dar es Salaam to purchase used clothing. He selects each piece individually and looks for clothes that would suit his younger, female clients. During the past 15 years he’s been in business, Idd’s learned what clothes will sell and what won’t sell.

In contrast, his tailoring business serves mostly male clients. He makes trousers and shirts. The cost of the clothes depends on the fabric he uses to make the garment. He works to make sure every garment is sewed neatly so that he can keep his good reputation in the community.

Idd uses the money from his business to support his family. He has three children, one in secondary school and two in primary school. Idd saves money to pay school fees for his children. Even though Idd’s children go to a public school, school is not free.

I recently met with Idd, and he continues to do well. Idd has a great business model. He is able to do the work he loves, and he teaches others to do the same. Idd works as a tailor, and instructs two apprentices in the art of tailoring. His apprentices work for free and pay a small fee in exchange for the lessons that allow them to learn the trade.

Prior to receiving the loan, Idd only had two sewing machines and was limited to having one apprentice. The additional capital that the loan provided allowed Idd to buy another sewing machine and take on another apprentice.

Having another machine and apprentice enables Idd to have a more flexible schedule, and attract more customers. Idd has continued to target female customers, because tailoring work for women is more profitable.

Idd has used a portion of the profits from his business to put his children through school. His daughter has finished secondary school and is now on her own, and he is supporting her son through secondary school.