Food Stand Helps Rabia Feed Her Daughters' Minds

Rabia Urokova works as a teacher in Kurgan Tube, but her teaching salary alone does not cover educational expenses for her five daughters. To earn extra income, Rabia started a business in the central market selling plov, a national rice dish.

Rabia heard about how FINCA made small loans available to people faced with her same challenges, and immediately recognized an opportunity. She talked with other vendors that she knew in the same market and organized a village banking group which they named Zebo. With her first loan of $160, Rabia opened an additional summer business location at another market, where her daughters sell plov while on school vacation. Her second loan of $262 made it possible for Rabia to purchase rice at wholesale prices, and her output and profit margin increased even more.

Rabia and her village bank colleagues are very happy with the progress they're making as borrowers in the FINCA Tajikistan program, and plan to continue growing their businesses through future loans. Rabia says she is also very happy that all of her daughters will be able to return to school in the fall because of the extra money they all have earned from their micro business.

FINCA Tajikistan is among the FINCA network's newer programs. As such, it is working to reach its full potential in current markets in southwestern Tajikistan including the cities of Kyliab, Kurgan Tube, Pianj, and Dushanbe. During 2005, FINCA Tajikistan clients in those areas benefited from an average of $721 in working capital-60 percent of the average annual per capita income.

Demand for FINCA products is great in Tajikistan, but loan capital is scarce. Additional donor support will allow FINCA Tajikistan to reach more clients, expand to new markets, and establish a nationwide program with sufficient scale to cover its own costs.

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