TWITIKE PTB

THE GROUP

Twitike PTB is based in Chitipa rural called Ibanda. All members in the group are in their first loan cycle. Twitike PTB is composed of five women and two men who have different businesses such as selling fish, doughnuts and grocery stores.

Twitike PTB was formed to increase business capital of everyone in the group so as to improve their standard of living.

The group meetings are conducted among others to discuss the importance of perfectly paying back their loans and they also encourage one another on the importance of saving their money as a way of preparing in advance for any problem that may come.

BUSINESS ACTIVITIES

The average daily sales of Twitike PTB members hovers around 10 to 66 dollars a day. It is still too early to see the impact the loans are having on the lives of the members of the PTB at the moment.

EDUCATION

Most of the members of the group have only managed to get primary education, others junior secondary school level and failed to continue with their education mainly because their guardians were unable to pay school fees. Distances to schools is another factor.

The group members are encouraging one another on the importance of sending their children to school hence have started to save for their children’s’ school fees.

LIVING STANDARDS

Some members of Twitike PTB explained that in the past they were even failing to buy food for their families as they were totally depending on their spouses but after getting loans at Opportunity Bank Malawi they are able to contribute in buying household necessities.

HEALTH

When members of Twitike PTB are sick, they go to Chitipa government hospital which is very far from their area of residence. Otherwise their health status is quite alright; they do not have major sicknesses.

OTHER TRANSFORMATION INDICATORS

The members of Twitike PTB are able to save money with Opportunity Bank Malawi. As a group they are able to come together and advice one another on how to solve their social challenges so as to remain economically active.

Some of the members are also able to take leading roles in other community social meetings like church groups.

BASELINE TRACKING AND TRANSFORMATION REPORT –MEMBER DETAILS:

NOTE: The loans are in Malawian currency and to translate them into US dollars divide by MK151

CLIENT STORIES

THE CLIENT: Rachel Ng’ambi

Rachel is a 48 years old widow. She has three children, two of which have since flown out of her nest. The child that is still in her house is Walusungu, a form two student. Rachel joined the PTB to increase her business capital.

Figure 1: Rachel Ng’ambi

Business Activities

Rachel has a grocery store. She makes daily sales of about $40. She purchases groceries at Chipiku stores at Chitipa town. But she faces the challenge of transport when purchasing groceries for her store because of the gravel road in the area she stays in.

Education

Rachel only managed to reach standard eight, and after that she did not have any other training. Rachel is very sure that with the free trainings that she gets from Opportunity Bank Malawi, she will succeed in life and will support the relative she is staying with, up to university level.

Living Standards

Rachel lives in Chitipa rural area called Ibanda, where she’s been living for the past 30 years. Through her business, she has managed to build a small house which has corrugated iron sheets. She is planning to save more so that she should fulfill her vision of buying a maize mill.

Rachel goes to Chitipa government hospital when one of her family member is sick. Chitipa hospital is far from where she stays but she doesn’t have any choice as there is no other public or private hospital that is close to where she stays.

Other Transformation Indicators

Rachel is an active member in the community. In fact she is the chairlady of a village bank.

THE CLIENT: Evinayi Simfukwe

Evinayi is 43 years of age and married. She has three sons, Mastano, Webster and Miston Muyila. The first two are now living on their own and she’s left with Miston in the house. She has stayed in Ibanda for 12 years. She joined Twitike PTB to increase her business capital.

Figure 2: Evinayi Simfukwe

Business Activities

Evinayi sells groceries. She orders these grocery items at Chipiku stores at Chitipa Boma (town centre). She makes daily sales of about $15. She has no part time or full time workers to assist her in the business.

Education

Evinayi did not manage to go beyond primary level with her education because of lack of financial support as her parents couldn’t afford to buy clothes, exercise books and other materials needed for her education. She still has confidence that one day her grandchild will be a university graduate.

Living Standards

Evinayi is now able to buy groceries in bulk to satisfy the demand of people in her area hence more profits in a short time. Her house is built from burnt bricks but does not have a floor built of cement. Food is not a problem in her home anymore, thanks to her business which was boosted by the loan that she got from Opportunity Bank Malawi.

Health

Evinayi depends on Chitipa government hospital for health care, which is very far from her area of residence, but she doesn’t have a choice of either going to a private hospital because her income is still low, and of course, the hospital is not there.

Other Transformation Indicator

Evinayi participates in social community activities such as church activities. Every month she saves MK 3,000.