Micro Entrepreneurs

Work has been going well the past couple weeks. The staff are finding the Word and Excel lessons extremely helpful which makes me happy. Since I'm having to create my own lessons I too am learning more about these apps then I ever expected to know. I've also begun the process of drafting a 2007 strategy report and budget which I hope will put TCBA in a better position to acquire more funding. TCBA is desperately low on capital and if we don't find funding soon business may start to decline which as in any business ain't so good. We've had a new volunteer from the UK join us as well and I've spent the past couple days bringing her up to speed. She has a PhD in chemistry and has spent the last couple years in retail marketing which should come in handy.

Yesterday we went out into the field and visited some of the TCBA clients. Its great to see how these microentrepeneurs choose to spend thieir loans and the proogress they are making. These are a few of the folks we visited.

Beatrice Mhango is a seamstress and has just received her fourth loan from TCBA. The newest loan is for 500,000Tsh (1000Tsh = US$1.00.) With the loans she's received from TCBA she's been able to purchase two new sewing machines, increase her raw materials, and employ two more people. Beatrice and her staff now produce 4-5 dresses a day when a year ago Beatrice was making just one on her own. With each dress that is made Beatrice now profits 5000Tsh which is five times more then she used to make. Beatrice and her husband have 3 children in primary and secondary school. She would like to continue to grow her business as she had done the past couple years and hopes all her children will complete secondary (high) school.

Juma Hamis is a bicycle repairman. In March he too received his fourth loan from TCBA of 500,000Tsh. With the loans he's received Juma has purchased 10 used mountain bikes which he rents either on an hourly basis for 200Tsh or nightly for 500Tsh. Juma has also bought new tools for his repair business and charges 5000Tsh when he services bikes. Juma hopes his new inventory of bicycles will be enough to put his eldest boy thru secondary school. School fee's can be as high as 400,000Tsh per year if the child has not be sponsored by the government. Only 1/2 of all students qualify for government funding. Juma has 3 more children who will soon be old enough for secondary school.

Rasmus Raphael owns a retail kiosk and has qualified for his third loan from TCBA of 500,000Tsh. He used to be a door to door salesman but now has enough funds to increase his inventory and rent a kiosk. Rasmus sales now total 25,000 - 30,000Tsh per day when as a door to door salesman they only totaled 10,000Tsh. Rasmus hopes to open a larger retail store someday.

Madiia Ally is a hair stylist and with her latest loan from TCBA now owns her own salon. With the loans she has received from TCBA, Madiia has also been able to add one employee and purchase 3 new hair dryer's which now service between 15-20 clients a day. Business is good and Madiia hopes to move to a bigger location soon.



TCBA staff along with the MondoChallenge founder and country managers.