Pelagia Limu

Mambo from Tanzania! This is 39-year-old Pelagia Limu from Dar es Salaam. She is divorced with one child five years old. Pelagia has been running a poultry business since 2005. Raising kuku or poultry is a popular micro-business in Tanzania, especially amongst SELFINA clients. Kuku means chickens in Swahili, and raising them for sale is popular for a number of reasons. First, they require little start-up capital. You can start with one or two, and either add to them as you go, or wait for them to multiply naturally! Second, they require little space, so sometimes you can just let them run around in your garden or compound. Third, while they are growing they produce eggs, which can either be sold to provide a supplementary source of income, or eaten to provide a supplementary source of protein. Her business is doing well. She works at the business for four hours per day, six days per week and is assisted by one employee. Pelagia currently earns about 300 USD from her business. She is requesting a loan of 850 USD in order to purchase more chicks. In the future, she plans to expand her business. Pelagia thanks you for your support!

SELFINA has taken a lead role as a pioneer of micro-credit through micro-leasing in Tanzania. The organization is engaged in the economic empowerment of women and uses the provision of a leasing and leaseback microfinance facility. Customs and traditions in Tanzania make it difficult for women to own land and assets; thus they are deemed non-creditworthy by financial institutions. This leads to poor access to basic needs and services for women with low incomes. One of the primary advantages of micro-leasing is that it allows clients to use the equipment as collateral for future loans with SELFINA, enabling them to borrow larger sums in the future.

Subscribe