FINCA Changing Lives In Africa
UK’s Telegraph visited FINCA Subsidiaries in Africa last month and featured FINCA in their Sunday edition. The article includes very impressive stories of how FINCA’s work in Uganda has changed the lives of several clients: Josephine Nakawooya, who with FINCA loans was able to start and run a school now attended by 250 children; the famous FINCA client Cissy Ssekyewa (who now employs dozens of people in her factory and shops); and clients Barbara Nassiwa and Ismael Katamba.
“In Kampala, Uganda’s sprawling, chaotic capital, Cissy Ssekyewa is FINCA’s shining example of success. Fourteen years ago, Mrs Ssekyewa took out a loan from FINCA of 100,000 Ugandan shillings – less than £25 – and used it to buy foam mattresses being discarded by a local factory. She tore the foam into shreds and made cushions and pillows with it.
Now she employs dozens of staff in one factory and three shops. “FINCA has changed my life,” said Mrs Ssekyewa, speaking above the hum of pedal-powered Singer sewing machines that surround her.”