I'm more than happy to chip in with feedback. I recently did a Tajik loan I
had to participate on, despite the fact that I generally don't find them attractive (for my picky fancy, that is). Thus, instead of pointing out whatever can be improved on Tajik loans, I'll use this loan as an example of what, in my opinion, makes a Tajik loan description well.
Here he is, ladies and gentlemen:
Farruh NizomovFarruh Nizomov is 23 years old. He runs a small shop where he produces small carts, which are used by his customers to transport food and other goods they purchase at the market to their homes. In general, the families in Tajikistan are large and, in preparation for family celebrations, individual family members purchase all of the necessary goods at the market for such celebrations. Thus, Farruh produces small hand carts and leases them to customers so they can transport their purchased goods to their vehicles or to the public transportation stops. Farruh is seeking a loan of $600 to purchase additional raw materials (e.g., wheels) required to make the carts. This would be Farruh's first loan and he is confident that he can repay it on time.
First of all, the picture does everything right. It shows the borrower in his own environment, even with the mentioned carts and wheels clearly showing. Also, the picture is available in high resolution.
But it's the loan description that really sells this one. I tend to love those that tell me something more than simply the borrower and the specific loan use. Please note that such factors are necessary as well, the worst loan descriptions I see are those whose loan use explanations are as generic as "expanding business". When I went to sleep after funding Farruh, I felt good inside – knowing that I'd not just helped Farruh expand his business, but by enabling him to buy wheels for his carts (for without wheels, what use will his carts do?). But I digress.
This loan description points beyond Farruh himself: It teaches me something about Tajik culture and Tajik society, and even makes Farruh and his business relevant in that context. Not only do I understand the need for Farruh's work, I feel obliged to loan if not just for the fact that I "owe" the description something. After all, it offered me knowledge.
So I parted ways with $25, and that night I didn't just picture Farruh constructing carts thanks to partially my money, I also saw people loaning his carts, transporting food to be made for a wedding, perhaps ...
Needless to say, I didn't fall asleep before long that night.
