From savings to success

Chriss is a 40-year-old resident of Mzimba District in Malawi. She is married and has four children aged 23, 20, 17, and 15. She has been a Fwasani Farmers Village Savings and Loans Group member for four years. Chriss joined the group to save money and support her business goals. Her main income comes from selling tomatoes, cooking oil, and dried fish, along with farming crops and livestock.

Recently, through lending to savings groups, Chriss and other group members have taken out loans to increase their savings and grow their businesses. 90,000 Kwacha ($52 USD) loan from the savings group, which she used to purchase tomatoes, cooking oil, dried fish, and medicines for her pigs. Part of the loan also went towards her children's school fees.

The loan has significantly improved Chriss' business. With increased capital, she has expanded her operations, ensuring a steady flow of income that covers school fees and household necessities. The profits from her business also help her repay the loan, demonstrating the positive impact of the savings group on her financial stability.

Since joining the savings group, Chriss has seen notable changes in her life. Her business has grown, allowing her to stop borrowing from unauthorized lenders. She has also increased her shares in the savings group, benefiting from the group's share-outs. Moreover, she has gained valuable knowledge from the group's activities and training.

Chriss highly recommends savings groups to her friends, praising the flexibility in loan repayment as a key advantage. Looking to the future, she dreams of opening an agro-dealer shop at Kacheche Trading Center, building a decent house, and ensuring her children attend university.