Masika Mohamed
Location: Vanga, Kenya
Business: Sea Cucumber Trader
Personal Facts
Age: 30
Marital Status: Widow
Formal Education: 8th Grade
Literate: Yes
# In Household: 11
Distance From Birth Home: 0 km
Rural/Urban: Rural
Microcredit Facts
First Loan: 2003
Amount: $65 (US)
Monthly Business Income: $130 (US)
Going it Alone
At the early age of nine, Masika developed eye problems that required her grandfather take her in and care for her. She never went back to live with her parents. She was married, but her husband passed away and she became a widow at a young age. She now lives with her grandparents, her mother, as well as three single sisters and their five sons. With no children of her own, Masika has assumed the responsibility as the main provider for the entire family.
A Loan to Lift
In 2003 Masika obtained a loan from Yehu Microfinance in the amount of $65. With this loan she started a sea-cucumber trading business. When she took out this loan, she had hope that she was going to lift her living standards by starting a business. She also hoped the microfinance organization would help her in marketing her goods. These hopes were soon realized, and Masika now considers her business to be very successful. Masika can purchase things she never could before such as furniture for her house. The lives of her entire family have changed. Masika is providing food, medicine, and education for her nephews and other family members-something she could not previously do.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Although Masika's business became successful, she did not stop with one loan. She took out a second loan of $130 and started a retail kiosk to supplement her sea-cucumber trade business. Then she opted for another loan of $130. Once again she was successful. The third loan together with the profits from the earlier loans were used to construct a rental house from which she is expecting to receive a regular monthly income.
Challenges of a Businesswoman
Masika has hired fishermen to work under her. A challenge she faces is keeping them working efficiently. She is now in the process of constructing a modern fishing boat for them and is trying to obtain the money to buy the new boat engine. Another challenge has been more severe. As a result of the success in her business, some other villagers became jealous and had her fishermen thrown out of the country (as some of them were from a neighboring country). However, she went to see the relevant authorities and was able to return the fishermen to their jobs in Kenya. Masika continues to see challenges, but she says that one day she hopes to be very successful—to be known by all locally and beyond. Through this documentary her dream is becoming a reality.