Back in Nakuru, Kenya,
and its magnificent Lake
Nakuru, and the thousands
of beautiful white and pink
flamingos.
The first day was spent driving around
visiting people that have received
some of our micro-enterprise loans.
We wanted to hear and see first hand
what these loans have helped these
people to achieve.
The very first person we visited was
Elizabeth Nyambura,
who, as it turns out, is probably
going to be our Poster Person
for what can happen when you
get capital into the hands of people,
train them,
and offer ongoing advice
and council.
Well, in Elizabeth’s case, she is the
one now giving advice and counsel
throughout her small village
outside of Nakuru.
and its magnificent Lake
Nakuru, and the thousands
of beautiful white and pink
flamingos.
The first day was spent driving around
visiting people that have received
some of our micro-enterprise loans.
We wanted to hear and see first hand
what these loans have helped these
people to achieve.
The very first person we visited was
Elizabeth Nyambura,
who, as it turns out, is probably
going to be our Poster Person
for what can happen when you
get capital into the hands of people,
train them,
and offer ongoing advice
and council.
Well, in Elizabeth’s case, she is the
one now giving advice and counsel
throughout her small village
outside of Nakuru.
With her first loan, Elizabeth purchased a cow.
It was obviously a Cash Cow, because,
with the profits from the milk she sold,
she managed to support her children,
construct a water tank,
complete with piping from
a water source up the hill
2.5 miles behind her house,
No, she didn’t hire anyone
to lay down the pipe:
she did it herself,
with the help of her 10 children.
Elizabeth is a widow.
It was obviously a Cash Cow, because,
with the profits from the milk she sold,
she managed to support her children,
construct a water tank,
complete with piping from
a water source up the hill
2.5 miles behind her house,
No, she didn’t hire anyone
to lay down the pipe:
she did it herself,
with the help of her 10 children.
Elizabeth is a widow.
Not long after doing this,
Farming Systems Kenya,
who oversees our mirco-enterprise
program in this area, chose Elizabeth
to be part of its dairy-goat program.
With this goat, she was able to sell 7 kids,
thereby paying for a daughter and son’s education,
constructed an iron sheet roof for her kitchen
(replacing the grass thatched one),
and bought another goat and 2 kids.
Her flock is now at 18 goats.
The milk from these goats
supports her family, and especially,
the ongoing fees for educating her children.
Farming Systems Kenya,
who oversees our mirco-enterprise
program in this area, chose Elizabeth
to be part of its dairy-goat program.
With this goat, she was able to sell 7 kids,
thereby paying for a daughter and son’s education,
constructed an iron sheet roof for her kitchen
(replacing the grass thatched one),
and bought another goat and 2 kids.
Her flock is now at 18 goats.
The milk from these goats
supports her family, and especially,
the ongoing fees for educating her children.
O, did I mention that she
also has 30 acres of corn
and sells honey from
her bee- hives?
also has 30 acres of corn
and sells honey from
her bee- hives?
As you can see, the corn is
parched from the draught the
nation is experiencing. Amazingly,
Elizabeth smiles and simply
looks around for other avenues
for generating cash.
parched from the draught the
nation is experiencing. Amazingly,
Elizabeth smiles and simply
looks around for other avenues
for generating cash.
Next up, Elizabeth Wangui Ng’ang’a
Here with her husband and daughter
Here with her husband and daughter
Elizabeth owns the local hair salon.
Given the severe drought that Kenya is suffering,
her business now barely provides
for her family’s monthly needs.
She applied for a loan, from which she
began purchasing indigenous chickens,
which brings higher profits from
eggs and meat than exotic chickens.
From a loan of just over $200
she purchased 30 chickens,
and has a goal of 70 more.
Being a forward thinking person,
she used part of the loan to erect a fence
for her chickens, so as to deter any
temptation of thievery,
and to better control what the birds eat.
Given the severe drought that Kenya is suffering,
her business now barely provides
for her family’s monthly needs.
She applied for a loan, from which she
began purchasing indigenous chickens,
which brings higher profits from
eggs and meat than exotic chickens.
From a loan of just over $200
she purchased 30 chickens,
and has a goal of 70 more.
Being a forward thinking person,
she used part of the loan to erect a fence
for her chickens, so as to deter any
temptation of thievery,
and to better control what the birds eat.
Always on the look-out for
new ways to generate income,
Elizabeth charges around
ten cents per charge.
While most of the people
in her village have cell phones,
few have electricity.
new ways to generate income,
Elizabeth charges around
ten cents per charge.
While most of the people
in her village have cell phones,
few have electricity.
John Kiiru. No, this is not John: it is his wife.
As John was off purchasing fodder for his cow,
I took this photo, expecting to take one of him, later.
When we finally sat down with him, I became so
enthralled with his passion for dairy farming
and being an example to the members of his church
(John is the pastor of a local church),
I forgot to take a photo.
John was in our training last year
and couldn’t thank Davide and me enough
for how the “attitude transformation” jettisoned
him toward the success he is now experiencing.
Having $250, John attained a loan for $800
so that he could purchase a Holstein.
Within a month this beauty
calved down and, with selling
around 20 liters of milk per day,
he was able to pay off his loan with ease,
while providing for his family.
He is now in the process of receiving
another loan to purchase his next Holstein.
As John was off purchasing fodder for his cow,
I took this photo, expecting to take one of him, later.
When we finally sat down with him, I became so
enthralled with his passion for dairy farming
and being an example to the members of his church
(John is the pastor of a local church),
I forgot to take a photo.
John was in our training last year
and couldn’t thank Davide and me enough
for how the “attitude transformation” jettisoned
him toward the success he is now experiencing.
Having $250, John attained a loan for $800
so that he could purchase a Holstein.
Within a month this beauty
calved down and, with selling
around 20 liters of milk per day,
he was able to pay off his loan with ease,
while providing for his family.
He is now in the process of receiving
another loan to purchase his next Holstein.
Anthony Maina Gethi.
Anthony was off generating income elsewhere,
so his wife was tending the store.
With a loan of around $500,
Anthony expanded his stock,
which enabled him to provide for his family
and pay off the loan (he only has
two more payments),
in spite of the severe
economic conditions in Kenya.
Anthony says that through our training
on transforming mindsets regarding possibilities
and opportunities for success,
as well as how to create rapport with customers,
he his been able to attain and
maintain a loyal customer base.
Anthony was off generating income elsewhere,
so his wife was tending the store.
With a loan of around $500,
Anthony expanded his stock,
which enabled him to provide for his family
and pay off the loan (he only has
two more payments),
in spite of the severe
economic conditions in Kenya.
Anthony says that through our training
on transforming mindsets regarding possibilities
and opportunities for success,
as well as how to create rapport with customers,
he his been able to attain and
maintain a loyal customer base.
(Photo is lousy. Sorry about that.
Probably should have put on
my glasses.)
Two of Anthony’s friends, Dickson Mwangi and
Ibrahim Ndungo, witnessed his success,
received micro-loans and started
their own grocery stores close by.
Within a short time,
other people also started businesses
through micro-loans, and,
Voila,
we now have a strip mall!
A profound example of the shift
in mindsets that are occurring in our trainings
was when Ibrahim offered us a Coca-Cola,
free of charge.
Rather than being need-based
—I am poor, I need a loan—
Ibrahim saw himself as having value,
receiving value,
and now offering added value,
thus generating even more value.
His offering us a free coke was
not about showing gratitude,
but, rather, a mindset that knows
if you offer added value
you will continually generate value.
One of the encouraging things about
this trip is seeing the tangible results
of our trainings.
Poverty is a mindset.
Wealth is a different mindset.
While there are certainly people
around the world who are struck down
by horrendous events such as typhoons and war,
overall, people are quite often poor
because of the consequences of their choices,
which are guided by systems of belief and attitudes.
Help these same people make the
requisite changes in their mindset,
teach them some skills,
and offer them an avenue for attaining capital,
and the results are simply amazing.
Probably should have put on
my glasses.)
Two of Anthony’s friends, Dickson Mwangi and
Ibrahim Ndungo, witnessed his success,
received micro-loans and started
their own grocery stores close by.
Within a short time,
other people also started businesses
through micro-loans, and,
Voila,
we now have a strip mall!
A profound example of the shift
in mindsets that are occurring in our trainings
was when Ibrahim offered us a Coca-Cola,
free of charge.
Rather than being need-based
—I am poor, I need a loan—
Ibrahim saw himself as having value,
receiving value,
and now offering added value,
thus generating even more value.
His offering us a free coke was
not about showing gratitude,
but, rather, a mindset that knows
if you offer added value
you will continually generate value.
One of the encouraging things about
this trip is seeing the tangible results
of our trainings.
Poverty is a mindset.
Wealth is a different mindset.
While there are certainly people
around the world who are struck down
by horrendous events such as typhoons and war,
overall, people are quite often poor
because of the consequences of their choices,
which are guided by systems of belief and attitudes.
Help these same people make the
requisite changes in their mindset,
teach them some skills,
and offer them an avenue for attaining capital,
and the results are simply amazing.
The children here have seen
very few Muzungu (Roughly
translated: White Guy, although
I have also heard it meant
Wanderer, as the first White Guys
were explorers. Then again,
I have also heard it means
Taker-over'ers! But the latter
could be a redaction...
Not that it isn't accurate,
mind you!)
One of the younger children
saw me ... and took off
screaming. I called them
into the grocery store
where I bought them all
candy.
"Yummmm,
White Guys are not all bad!"
I held my camera waist high
... and then ...
ZAP!
"Hmmmm White Guys
are tricky."
I depart Nairobi for Atlanta, later today.
Will be home one day, then
off to meetings in California.
I will be posting a report
on our two trainings in Nakuru
ASAP.
very few Muzungu (Roughly
translated: White Guy, although
I have also heard it meant
Wanderer, as the first White Guys
were explorers. Then again,
I have also heard it means
Taker-over'ers! But the latter
could be a redaction...
Not that it isn't accurate,
mind you!)
One of the younger children
saw me ... and took off
screaming. I called them
into the grocery store
where I bought them all
candy.
"Yummmm,
White Guys are not all bad!"
I held my camera waist high
... and then ...
ZAP!
"Hmmmm White Guys
are tricky."
I depart Nairobi for Atlanta, later today.
Will be home one day, then
off to meetings in California.
I will be posting a report
on our two trainings in Nakuru
ASAP.
Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2009
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