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Lives Transformed

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alice_kidsAlice Reta

Kenya Women's Finance Trust

My name is Alice. I’m 33 years old. I live in Kenya. I have a husband and nine children and a grandmamma that I take care of. I have a small shop that gives me income to support my family and send my children to school and so that can go on with life.

Last year there was a lot of violence here. We lost so many things. Before, I used to plant amazing potatoes and beans that could sell. But right now that’s impossible.

Kenya Women’s Finance Trust (a Calvert Foundation partner) gave us a loan of 20,000 shillings (about $250). My new business is growing. And since I have the children I want to give them food and to buy them clothes. Since we came here I have a girl in grade 2 and two are in class 6. I pray for us to be together and be able to educate them and give them the necessities.

> Invest to help people like Alice.

empanadaJoconda Zenith

Banco Solidario of Ecuador

All my life I have made empanadas. One day a friend of mine said to me, "Why don't you sell them." My answer was always that I did not have the silver necessary to start a business selling them. But the thought always remained in my mind. I knew there was something more for me.

When my husband did not find a job after sometime I decided to move to Portoviejo and start work. He decided to come along with me and that is where we found Banco Solidario. They had the silver I needed to start my own empanada businesses. Now I have 17 employees and sell over 300 empanadas a day. We are able to sell them all over the city!

> Invest to help people like Joconda.

basketsMao Sitha

CREDIT of Cambodia

I was not satisfied with the type of life me and my husband were providing for our son so I decided to take action. I had not been able to go to school growing up because of the war in Cambodia, but I wanted more for my son. I had heard about CREDIT from a neighbor and decided to apply for a loan. With our first loan we launched two businesses. One grinding rice and another making baskets.

I have repaid and taken out more loans from CREDIT since the first loan that helped me start my business. Our two businesses are doing well and my son is now in school.

> Invest to help people like Mao.