Farida Kholikova

Kholikova Farida is 29 years old, married and has one child. Farida has been selling clothing for children for the past 3 years. She started this business because her husband has no fixed job and sometimes they had difficulties in their lives. Using her savings, she started to travel to the neighboring town of Istaravshan to buy clothing to sell at the local market of Isfara. Little by little she increased the number of clients and expanded her business. Nevertheless, presently her selection of garments is poor and therefore she requests a loan of 2500 Somoni to be repaid in 6 months. With this loan Farida can purchase new and varied merchandise to offer her clients.


More about Tajikistan and IMON International

Tajikistan is perhaps best known for its rich history. It was a key post along the Silk Road and is where the rule of Alexander the Great ended. It is famous for its great thinkers, philosophers, scientists and poets such as: Rudaki, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Firdousi, Omar Haiyam, Jomi, Mavlavi Rumi and many others. The country is home to epic mountain passes, communities that still speak the ancient Sogdian language, and a civilization that dates back to the 4th millennium BC. And, even today, it is a complex mixture of the Islamic faith, Soviet culture, New West culture and Central Asian traditions.

But, Tajikistan is also the poorest of the former Soviet republics. The civil war, which ignited soon after its independence from the U.S.S.R., further damaged the already weak economy. In addition, 93% of the country is mountainous and only 7% of the land is arable. These conditions have resulted in high levels of unemployment and have forced hundreds of thousands to seek work in other countries, mainly Russia. While the people of Tajikistan are working to improve its agricultural production and manufacturing sector, nearly two-thirds of the population still live in abject poverty.

IMON's History
Since December 2007, IMON International has worked closely with Kiva and Kiva lenders to ensure that poor and low-income clients represent a viable business proposition. Funds raised through Kiva have already been distributed to thousands of IMON International's clients and will continue to provide thousands more with permanent access to the varied financial services they need. To learn more about IMON International's work, please visit: www.imon.tj

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