Rifija

Loan description:

Rifija Mrndjic is from Sarajevo. She is 35 and married with two boys both of whom attend school. Her husband works in a local bakery. Rifija wanted to contribute to household income and decided to start growing and selling vegetables. She grows beans, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkins, and maize. She sells to neighbours and other regular customers she has in the city. The business has grown in recent years and she works intensively from early spring until late autumn. It is only in the winter with the low temperatures and heavy snow when she cannot work outside. The income she generates helps to pay for her children's school expenses and other household costs. Rifija wants to raise chickens as well. She sought a loan in order to rebuild a chicken coop and buy chicks. This is her second loan with the microfinance organisation Women for Women International - she repaid her previous one without difficulties. She commented ‘’I want to make better life for my children and provide them everything I can with my business’’. The loan is for 18 months.