By Betsy Ramser Jaime
William Nzai lives in Mtwapa, Kenya and gained an education from primary school through high school, finishing his studies at Mwakichuchu high school in 2007.
He shares, ‘After that I started keeping some poultry and growing vegetables and maize in the farm.’ Being in the farming industry, William finds that one of his greatest challenges is the lack of control over rainfall. There can be a lot of volatility and factors outside his control.
In his business, William sells: maize, cereals, eggs, and chickens. He explains why he chose this particular business for himself as he says, ‘These goods are useful because the entire community depends on improving health and these are goods are needed by our body building. This business does not require a lot of highly skilled labour and does not need many people to operate.’
With his profits he is able to pay school fees for his children, grow his business, and continue to invest for the future. When he’s not busy tending to his own farm, he really enjoys visiting other farmers!
To date, William has successfully raised 5 Zidisha funded loans, becoming a part of the Zidisha community in 2016. With his first loan, he raised $200 and recently has raised loans for just under $900. Between 2006-2017, William raised 3 loans with the purpose to buy fertilizers, seeds, and insecticide. He explains, ‘The benefit will increase the production of goods in the farm hence others will be happy to get healthy product in farm. The profit will be more because I will produce goods in high quality.’
His Zidisha funded loans have also enabled him to hire additional workers to help him on the farm, to pay for a tractor to cultivate his land, and to put funds towards transporting his goods.
On Oct 29, 2017 William proudly shared this update with his Zidisha lenders, ‘First and foremost I like to give thanks for the lenders. My business is doing very well and had changed my life complete different. I request other loan so that I can expand more and better products for my customers to satisfy all their needs. I really appreciate so much to join Zidisha.’
Towards the end of 2017, William set out to raise another Zidisha funded loan, this time raising $893 to put towards building a store. With this loan he purchased ‘bricks, cement, timber, iron sheets, and building materials like nails. He also used the loan towards construction costs as well.
Most recently, William has set out on a new project, to build a house of his own for his family. By doing this he will no longer need to pay rent and will have his own property. As of January 2020, he requested a $886 loan to complete his house project, purchasing cement, iron sheets, ballasts, timber, nails, and roofing materials.
Through his partnership with Zidisha, William has been able to make several big changes in his life. For instance, here are a few that he’s most proud of, ‘First and foremost I would like to thank the leaders for leading me. In that loan I manage to buy high quality materials like fertilizer, seeds, tools for working in the farm and also increase land and expand storages. All these materials made the work very efficient and easy to implement. Ongoing business my earnings increased double and I used the earning to pay loan, fees, and purchase the daily basis needs in my family. The greater achievement with this loan I mange to transfer my child to a better school and manage to pay fees in time and also purchase my laptop for keeping my records. May God bless you and live long to continue helping other entrepreneurs.’
Would you like to continue helping other entrepreneurs like William? Make sure to head on over to our Browse Projects Page to empower other Zidisha business owners.
