By Betsy Ramser Jaime
‘My name is Sternly Katongo and I am a Zambian citizen by nationality. I am a young and energetic man of 25 years old. I completed my college diploma successfully because of the efforts and hard work I put in my studies.’
Sternley had to sacrifice and work hard to receive his education and was later rewarded for his efforts when he was awarded as the best student in public administration.
While he was a student Sternley began growing vegetables which allowed him to support himself. Even today, after graduating, he has been able to use his gardening business as his main source of income.
In describing his business Sternley shares, ‘I supply these vegetables in supermarkets, main markets places and house to house. Vegetables are highly in demand and mostly highly consumable. Once I harvest them, I take them to the market where I sell them and sell them very fast and earn my profits in good time. Gardening is one of the easiest and fastest means of earning income today in Zambia and I choose it because, through the earnings, I was able to pay for my school fees, help my family with decent meals, and some of the profits I save for reinvestments and helping siblings to pay for their primary and necessary education.’
Sternley is new to the Zidisha community, joining in early 2022, and has now raised four Zidisha-funded loans. With each loan, he has been able to purchase organic fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides. He anticipates that in the near future, he will be able to double his profits.
Recently, on June 16, Sternley took to his Zidisha discussion page and shared, ‘The loan you supported me helped a lot. I bought all the farming inputs and the vegetables are growing very well, am so happy with Zidisha loans and life is really changing and that of my family. Thank you very much and may God bless.’
Would you like to make a difference in the life of another Zidisha business owner like Sternley? Make sure to head on over to our Browse Projects page to see what other innovative entrepreneurs are doing around the world.
Betsy is a Writer and Editor living in Florida with her husband. She has been writing with Zidisha for 5 years and loves sharing the inspiring stories of Zidisha entrepreneurs. You can connect with her on her personal website.
