Sitara's Story

Sitara worried about her new baby's future. She knew how hard it was for her growing up in a poor family. The last thing she wanted was for her son to face the same challenges.

But despite her and her husband's best efforts to make their small, home-run grocery store business successful, they could not escape the grip poverty had on them.

One day, Sitara heard about microfinance loan opportunities in her community. Right away, she knew this was the key to her family turning their lives around. When Sitara received her first loan she was so excited! Finally she and her husband would be able to properly invest in their business so that they could begin to earn an income.

"My husband used to have to turn customers away, telling them we didn't have what they were looking for," she says. "He was so embarrassed that we couldn't even afford to buy the things people needed so we could stock the shelves! We lost so much business. Now we can buy what people need and have it for them when they come to the store."

Sitara has now received two microfinance loans - and she has already paid them both back. She plans to apply for another loan so she and her husband will be able to build and promote their business in new ways. Sitara doesn't worry about her family's future as much these days - instead, she gets excited for it!

"We are building a better life for our son - we are giving him hope."