Sabougnima Djidinky Manding Group

Fatoumata is president of the group "Sabougnima Djdinky Manding"; in the Manding language, this means "Giving Thanks." She is the one holding the plate of vegetables in the photo. Fifty-six years old, Fatoumata is in the market-farming business like the other women in her group. She is married and the mother of three children between the ages of six and fifteen. She did not get an education—but all her children are in school. 

Fatoumata and the members of her group decided to join forces to ask for a loan to develop their market-farming businesses. She has extensive experience in this trade, which she has plied for over seventeen years. Fatoumata buys seeds at market and sells vegetables grown from them at weekly markets, realizing an annual take of 210,000. 

Thanks to the proceeds from this activity, she is providing for her children's needs in the spheres of schooling, nutrition, health, and so on. 

Among other difficulties Fatoumata has encountered, we may note the failure to meet strong demand and lack of access to financial institutions. 

In this group: Fatoumata, Mariama, Kidiera, Mouscoye, Nene, Sadio, Fatoumata, Diarra, Souncary, Nakeba, Diatou, Solly, Kady, Mouskeba, Djiba, Dianke

Translated from French by Kiva volunteerStephan Crown-Weber. View original language description.