Gilbert Matsiko

After receiving our most recent transfer of funds to Life in Africa from Kiva, Gilbert Matsiko's loan was disbursed last week at the Life in Africa WE Center in Kampala.

Though Gilbert himself was ill with malaria and did not attend the group disbursal event (he received his loan a few days later) there are a few pictures of the group on disbursal day online if Kiva lenders would like to see @ flickr.com/photos/lifeinafrica/sets/72057594112504869

On behalf of the LiA community, thank you for supporting Gilbert. Keep up to date on some of his other activities at lifeinafrica.com/4/matsikogilbert - He is a very active member, so there will be some updates there soon.

christina kirabo @ lifeinafrica.com

 

Gilbert managed to put up his secretarial bureau and started paying back very well especially when he was doubling as manager for both LIA and Invisible children After the Sept. transition, he still did fairly well . He however had some drawbacks in the past three months when he said he was faced with extra responsibility of paying University fees for two of his brothers. This then saw him to non payments for two consecutive months and LiA had to cover this payments. He managed to start recovering the arrears last month and promised to do extra payments each month.

Visit

LifeInAfrica.com/kiva/2006loans.htm to view the current repayment

status of all Kiva loans disbursed at Life in Africa in 2006.

Gilbert is the operations manager for the Invisible Children Bracelet Campaign. I joined Gilbert in his office to find out his secretarial, printing, and stationary business is fairing. Gilbert utilized his Kiva loan to purchase a computer. He had hoped to buy a photocopier and place it in a shop near Makerere University because students have a high demand for such services. However, after more research Gilbert realized that a secondhand photocopier costs 1.8 million ush, a steep price that he cannot afford one at the moment. Gilbert is saving his income with the intention of financing the necessary fixed capital to open his business in the near future.

Gilbert is celebrating his 25th birthday on August 18th. He reflected on his good fortune and is thankful for current job at Invisible Children. By the time he is 40 Gilbert hopes to find himself living on a farm in his home village in Kabale District with a happy and healthy family.

Gilbert is pictured here inside his office at the of the Invisible Children Bracelet Campaign center, where he works as a manager. Gilbert would like to thank the Kiva lenders for their support!