This blog post was written by Megan Henderson, our Senior Communications & Events Officer.
Celestine from Kenya
“It has been difficult because of the coronavirus, but my Savings Group has helped me.”
Celestine lives in Butere, Kenya, with her two children, aged 12 and 6. She joined her Savings Group in 2018 as a means to support her family and her tailoring shop in Butere’s market.
“I have never had a place to save until I joined my Savings Group. Every time I go to my Group’s monthly meeting, I receive training. Business management training helped me to increase my profits and taught me to plan for the future.”
Now, she is not only a shop owner, but an employer too. Celestine has hired two youths from town.
“After making some profit from my tailoring business, I bought a motorbike and employed a youth to use it as a boda boda [motorbike taxi]. The driver sends me 300 shillings each day from the proceeds he makes.”
Celestine is growing with her Group. She is better able to support her family, business and community. With access to financial services and business training, Celestine is planning for her future and aspires to impact others in her community too.
“I am now more educated and open-minded. I want to expand my business and train more youth in tailoring, so that like me, they can provide for their households. I also want to buy more motorbikes because it is a good way to earn money to support my family.”