Ouedraogo Alidou, 38, provides for a family of 13 people. Setting-up a business in food and dietary supplies his native village Koudougou helped to bear the financial pressure. Yet, the limitations of the village became more apparent over time, as more money was needed to pay for school tuition and food, while taking out loans is frowned upon in the community.

Kone Kognon Ibrahim, 39, takes care of 11 people; his wife, four children, and four other family members. Coming from the small village of Leguedougou he moved to Dianra, where there are more opportunities for his poultry farm and marketing efforts. 

Azza Abou Zeid Kobbes, 36, had been running her own small business selling household goods from home in Aswan for several years. Although there was no imminent financial pressure because her husband, who works in a vocational school, takes care of the household expenses and their four children, Azza sought to empower herself and make a difference in her community.

After her 10-year marriage ended in divorce, Toktosunova Jumagul Tagaikulovna moved back to her native village, Saray, in the Karasu region. Left with three children to look after, Toktosunova made her children’s education and upbringing her priority. Committed to becoming financially independent, she decided to start her own business rather than work as a salaried employee.

Catherine, 55, is a grandmother, supporting six people including four children of school age. She moved from her home town of Port-Bergé to a bigger city with the hope of being able to provide the children with a better education. Although the city was a more prosperous place for her food business, the costs of transferring the goods from Port Bergé were too high to sustain.

Living all his life with his parents and brothers in the city of Bamako-Coura, Habib Maiga, 42, wanted nothing more than being able to contribute to his family’s well being. The owner of a small shop, Habib was determined to build his business in order to improve his family’s living conditions. Habib was one of the first clients of Première Agence de MicroFinance Mali, applying for a loan when PAMF established in 2006.

Muhammad Sabir Shah, 33, and has experienced many difficulties in life. Ten years ago, Sabir lost his left arm and badly fractured both of his legs in an accident that left him bedridden.

Sirin Yousef’s life changed drastically as a result of the on-going crisis in Syria. Sirin lost both her house and her job as a pharmacist as the conflict engulfed Aleppo. Physically and mentally exhausted and full of despair, Sirin sought to support her and her husband’s family by returning to her hometown, Tartous.

After marriage, Lola Jobirova moved to the capital city Dushanbe from the rural area of Varzob. She began working with her mother-in-law, who stitched and sold mattresses, in order to support her family and pay the school fees of her four children. As the cost of raw materials rose in Tajikistan, Lola needed to apply for a loan.