Konstantine

Konstantine is 21 years old. He lives in the small village of Lagodekhi District with his mother. Konstantine requested a loan from local financial institutions several times for family business start-up, but without any success. His loan request was rejected all the time, because of low income and family’s poor living conditions. The only source of the income for the family is from agricultural activities. In particular, they have a milking cow, whose milk is used in cheese production. Besides, they have 3 hectares of agricultural land, where cucumbers, maize,…

Konstantine is 21 years old. He lives in the small village of Lagodekhi District with his mother. Konstantine requested a loan from local financial institutions several times for family business start-up, but without any success. His loan request was rejected all the time, because of low income and family’s poor living conditions. The only source of the income for the family is from agricultural activities. In particular, they have a milking cow, whose milk is used in cheese production. Besides, they have 3 hectares of agricultural land, where cucumbers, maize, aborigine and watermelons are grown. They sell the harvested products locally. It is hardly enough food for the family. According to Credo estimations the family belongs to the subsistence poor category. Konstantine requested loan from Credo to start up a family business. Konstantine has now been approved for a loan within the framework of the new joint initiative of Kiva and Credo. The start-up loan program envisages provision of business start-up and re-startup credits with soft conditions to rural poor people, who do not have access to credit products. These rural poor people are regarded as “high risk borrowers” because of their low income. With his credit Konstantine will purchase a minibus. After purchasing a minibus, he plans to trade with vegetables and increase the income of the family. The new business initiative, financed with the Kiva Start-up loan will significantly improve the living conditions of the family.