Mark Agwonah Fund -- history and status

[Guest]

.

[Diane R]

 
Ann Muthoni Muthee is a mother of 2 who started a small business selling cereals and grains such as beans, maize, green grams and rice several years ago.  For the first time she truly felt she was able to contribute to her family and her shop has restored her dignity.  She is requesting $750 to purchase a weighing machine and seive, and beans, maize, rice, flour, green peas, green grams and chicken feed to expand her offerings at her stall.  She hopes to be able to create employment for at least one other person in her community.



Ann Muthoni Muthee
Location:  Ruai, Nairobi, Kenya
Business Name:    Ann Muthoni Muthee
Activity:  Cereals
Loan Requested:  $750.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  8 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  To purchase a variety of cereals including beans, maize, green grams and chicken feed

MFI:  Action Now: Kenya

Loan Disbursed:  Sep. 23, 2007

Journal entry received, Nov. 9, 2007

[Diane R]

 
We had been waiting for Daniel Ngata's loan for weeks, after hearing from Irene Kamau at Action Now: Kenya that Daniel was a particular friend of Mark Agwonah's and had helped his family considerably.  We wanted to be sure to participate on the loan to him when it appeared.  Daniel runs a kerosene pump business, having moved into this trade from running a dry cleaning business which he opened after being laid off from the bus company several years ago.  He has received business training and is a very hard worker.  Daniel supports his wife and 4 children, his aging parents, and various HIV/AIDS-infected persons in his community.  He is a very active member of that community, running a local organization called "AIDS Link", and is sought out by NGOs in the area as a consultant.  He is requesting $800 to expand his kerosene business, and hopes to hire 2 or 3 local people to assist in his expansion.

We are very proud to be part of the group lending to Daniel.



Daniel Ngata
Location:   Kayole, Nairobi, Kenya
Business Name:    Tikrit Kerosene Pump
Activity:  Fuel/Firewood
Loan Requested:  $800.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  12 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  Purchase 5 empty metal drums and 1000 litres of kerosene
MFI:  Action Now: Kenya

Loan Disbursed:  Oct. 9, 2007

[Diane R]

 
Martin Kaai Kiambi is a young man with a young son and wife he supports.  He was trained as an electrician and makes his living repairing mobile phones and selling mobile phone accessories in the market.  He is asking for $1,200 to assist in expanding his business, and is saving for his son's education. His expansion plan is well thought out: $100 to purchase bags of phone accessories, $1000 to purchase new mobile phones from different companies and brands, and $100 to modify the premises.



Martin Kaai Kiambi
Location:  Nairobi, Kenya
Business Name:    Martin Kaai Kiambi
Activity:  Mobile Phones
Loan Requested:  $1,200.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  24 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  To expand his mobile phone business.
MFI:  Ebony Foundation (Eb-F)

Loan Disbursed:  Sep. 19, 2007

[Diane R]

   
Godfrey Njeru Kithaka (whose name is spelled "Godfery" in the title of his loan, so I entered it both ways above to be sure you can find it when you search) is a young man with a wife and young child not yet in school.  He has a stall in the large Kongowea market selling household electronics.  He had a time last year when he had health problems at the same time his child was born, and spent his savings on medical expenses.  He is asking for $600 to restock his shop and jump-start his business again.



Godfrey Njeru Kithaka
Location:  Mombasa, Kenya
Business Name:    Godfrey Njeru Kithaka
Activity:  Electronics Sales
Loan Requested:  $600.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  24 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  To buy additional electronics stock.
MFI:  Ebony Foundation (Eb-F)

Loan Disbursed:  Sep. 22, 2007

[Diane R]

   
Moses Kathanaika Chabari has a wife and young child not yet in school.  He had begun studying nursing but was not able to keep up with school fees and had to drop out.  He has continued as a clinic volunteer even without his nursing degree, but is working towards being able to return to school to continue his nursing studies.  He resells tomatoes in the large Kongowea market, paying half to his suppliers before sales and half after.  He is asking for $550 to purchase his tomato stock up-front and get better terms from the suppliers.



Moses Kathanaika Chabari
Location:  Mombasa, Kenya
Business Name:    Moses Kathanaika Chabari
Activity:  Food Market
Loan Requested:  $550.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  24 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  To increase his tomatoes stock.
MFI:  Ebony Foundation (Eb-F)

Loan Disbursed:  Sep. 22, 2007

[Diane R]

 
Maxmilian Etyang Onyapidi has had a bakery in Moding for three years, producing 80 dozen cakes and scones daily for retail sale and wholesale to local shops, who pay him after they have sold the baked goods.  He now works alone and delivers his goods by bicycle himself.  This is his second loan request.  He is asking for $375 to improve his baking equipment, and to hire someone to do the deliveries so he can concentrate on the baking.



Maxmilian Etyang Onyapidi
Location:  Moding - Teso District, Kenya
Business Name:    Moding Home Bakery
Activity:  Bakery
Loan Requested:  $375.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  9 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  Purchase modern baking equipment, and hire someone to make deliveries
MFI: People Microcredit Investment Bureau (PEMCI)

Loan Disbursed:  Sep. 25, 2007

[Diane R]

 
Mariam Odundo is a tailor with a stall at the Makina market, where she has been working since 1999 when her husband helped her buy a sewing machine and set up independently from the tailoring business where she was working before, making buttonholes and mending.  She is now a widow, with five children and elderly parents whom she supports.  In addition to her regular business, she has received a huge order to make gowns for bridesmaids for a December wedding and is asking for $150 to purchase the fabric for this order.  She will be hiring two young women to help in her business.



Mariam Odundo
Location:   Kibera slums, Kenya
Business Name:    Mariam Odundo
Activity:  Tailoring
Loan Requested:  $150.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  12 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  To purchase tailoring cloth materials
MFI:  Action Now: Kenya

Loan Disbursed:  Oct. 12, 2007

[Diane R]

 
James Ndegwa runs a butchery and restaurant which he started several years ago.  His clientele knows him as the first honest butcher they have had in the area, in stark contrast to previous butchers who were dishonest, cheated customers, and sold bogus meats.  This past year he started selling prepared dishes to his customers, including workers at nearby industrial areas.  He is requesting $1,200 to purchase a deep-freeze and restaurant equipment to improve his business.



James Ndegwa
Location:  Embakasi, Kenya
Business Name:  Containers Butchery
Activity:  Restaurant
Loan Requested:  $1,200.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  10 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  To purchase a deepfreeze, chips warmer, 15 chairs, 4 large tables, and a small tent
MFI:  Action Now: Kenya

Loan Disbursed:  Oct. 12, 2007

Journal entry received, Nov. 27, 2007

[Diane R]

   
Martin Nderi Ng'ang'a has had a furniture making business since 2003, when he completed a year's training in carpentry and sold an underperforming fruit stand.  He now has a contract to supply furniture to Kikwetu Hotel in Nairobi, and has been having trouble with some of his machinery not being reliable.  He is requesting $1,200 to purchase a planer to replace his unreliable one, and other necessities to meet this contract deadline.  He will be hiring 2 others to help with this contract.



Martin Nderi Ng'ang'a
Location:  Ruai, Nairobi, Kenya
Business Name:  Mande Furnishers
Activity:  Carpentry
Loan Requested:  $1,200.00  (Mark Agwonah Fund contributed $25)
Repayment Term:  10 months - repaid monthly
Loan Use:  To purchase a Plainer machine, a motor and a portable shed
MFI:  Action Now: Kenya

Loan Disbursed:  Oct. 16, 2007

Journal entry received, Dec.11, 2007

[Diane R]

Most of the businesses in the portfolio here have begun repaying their loans. Using Henry's template for the Kiva Shopping Club loans as a guide, I've put together a spreadsheet where we can track the progress of the loans made by the Fund.  I will try to keep it updated and replace the file in this post at least monthly; I'll plan to post a pointer in the Discussion thread to this post when it's updated so you'll know to come take a look.

I've taken a suggestion and posted the spreadsheet in Google Documents; please let me know if you have any trouble viewing this.  (You should NOT have to have a gmail account to just view it; if we were collaborating and I were letting you modify the spreadsheet, you'd need a gmail account, but everyone should be able to view this.  In theory.)

Mark Agwonah Memorial Fund loans