Comfort Dovi

Thank you for your loan. It has been disbursed to Comfort Dovi by Microfund Togo in Togo. We are excited to watch this business grow. Over the 15 months of this loan, Microfund Togo will be collecting repayments from this entrepreneur and posting progress updates on the Kiva website.

Greetings from Comfort Dovi in Kladjemé, Togo! I had the pleasure of meeting Comfort at her home on October 6, 2009. Since receiving her loan, Comfort has purchased a large stock of corn which she has used to prepare “akpan”, a fermented corn paste that is quite popular in Togo, that she then resells.

Prior to taking out this loan, Comfort was able to realize a daily profit of 500 CFA. However, since purchasing her stock of corn, she has been able to produce more of her product, and has seen her clientele grow, too. As a result, she is now able to realize a weekly profit of 5000 CFA. The profitability of her business has had a very positive impact on her life. Comfort, a widow, is building her own house, and with the profits she’s earned since receiving the loan, has been able to put a roof over two thirds of it (see video!).

In addition to repaying her loan and to working on her home, Comfort has used her profits to support her 7 children. She has two at home with her, and the rest are learning trades through apprenticeships. She hopes that once she completes the construction on her house, her children can set up their own studios there so that they no longer have to rent spaces in town. She also looks forward to diversifying her business activities. Comfort used to sell wax pagnes, colorful and omnipresent West African textiles. However, since her husband passed away, this activity has proved too difficult to finance, as pagnes can be quite expensive. With sufficient funds, she is hopeful that she will be able to resume it.

Jessica Chervin

Kiva Fellow, Microfund Togo