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350 women get loans

J

udith Foundation has supported 350 vulnerable women in Mzuzu with loans to boost their small-scale businesses.

The women, who are mothers and guardians of primary and secondary school learners the non-governmental organisation (NGO) is also supporting, are expected to pay back the money after their businesses have picked up.

The women ready to receive the loans

Speaking in an interview, the NGO’s programmes officer Wisdom Nyirenda said they wanted the women to generate their own money to buy food for their children.

He said the foundation, which only pays school fees and fund for 780 secondary and primary school children, cannot provide meals for the learners. He said this was the reason they are supporting their parents and guardians with business capital.

Said Nyirenda: “Most learners we support lack basic needs, including going to school on an empty stomach, which affects their performance.

“We encourage the beneficiaries to also save the income in village savings and loans groups so that they may be able to get more after sharing the dividends.”

One of the beneficiaries, Mercy Eriko from Mzilawaingwe, whose son is under the foundation’s bursary programme at Moyale Community Day Secondary School, said the loan will boost her agro-business.

“It is true we struggle to provide basic needs for our children, but with the capital, our livelihoods will improve,” she said.

Another beneficially Mary Msiska from Masasa said she will invest the money in banana business.

“I believe, I will now be able to buy school uniform and pay school development fund for my three children,” she said.

The women took loans ranging from K100 000 to K250 000 each.

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