Habiba's Story

At Habiba and her sons' flower shop, business is in full bloom! When they first opened their store, they hoped it would become successful. But they never imagined it would happen so fast.

Within a month of starting their business, Habiba's family already began noticing significant improvement to their finances and their ability to afford basic necessities like healthy food, clothes and household supplies - items that had been difficult for them to afford before because they were so poor.

When they were young, Habiba's sons had learned the art of making artificial flowers from their uncle, who also ran a flower shop. For years they had thought they could help ease the financial burden on their mother and father by selling the flowers they made. But the family had no extra income of their own to invest in starting a business. Unless they borrowed money from a loan shark - who would charge high interest rates that would only push them further into debt - the boys thought their dream would never come true.

But Habiba has always believed that "where there is a will, there is a way." When she heard about microfinance loans, she knew she had found their way.

Habiba applied for a loan and went into business with her sons. Immediately her sons got busy making and filling their small store with flowers. And the customers started coming - they were amazed at the beautiful things Habiba's sons were able to make.

Today their business continues to grow and Habiba is looking forward to where the future will take them.

"I am really grateful for the microfinance loan and the people who helped us start our business," Habiba says. "Life is not the same struggle it was before. We work hard, but we see more results from our work. I hope more women who are in need join the microfinance program so they can also change their lives."