 Dreams and challenges
The nuts and bolts of doing business with small entrepreneurs in Africa can be challenging, Alisa admits. “The supply timeline is my major challenge right now,” she said. “I send over a detailed list of pieces that will sell here, explaining how each piece should be made – length, colors, type of clasp, for example – and then have to wait for a group to go over on a mission trip and bring back the products for me.
“I’m not a jewelry designer, but I’ve had to become one, to some extent!” she added.
About 25% of the total retail cost of the items goes back to MOHI to pay a fair wage to the artisan, cover the cost of the materials and invest in MOHI.
“I see this as a ministry, and a great way to raise awareness of what Kenyan artisans are doing,” said Alisa.
 “There has just been one thing after another to affirm that I need to take these risks and see where God takes it,” she added. “For example, a friend of ours believes so much in what I’m doing that he paid off that personal loan we took out to begin the business.”
Alisa hopes to expand with products from other CMF mission fields in the future.
“I’m not a business person, by any means,” Alisa said. “But I have made myself available and God is opening the doors!”
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How she began
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Macrine joined a Missions of Hope accountability group in 2009. At the time, she owned a small food stand in her community where she made and sold pastries every morning, but this business was not large enough to support her family’s needs. With her first loan of $100 she invested in stock for her business, buying in bulk to save money. With her second loan she started cooking beans and corn and preparing tea for her customers along the street. Her third loan of almost $1,100 helped her construct and open her restaurant, as well as pay off her children’s school fees. While Macrine is very happy and grateful with how far she has come with these loans, she has big plans for the future of her business. She wants to keep growing so she can employ as many people as possible and empower her community with jobs and healthy food.
Virginia lives in Mathare Valley with her child. Since her husband disappeared, she has been providing for her child as a single mother. She operates a small produce stand, but struggled to provide for her child’s needs. Virginia joined a Missions of Hope accountability group about a year ago, hoping to expand her business. After a period of saving money she took out her first loan and was able to increase her stock. As a result, her business began generating more money and she has been able to pay her child’s school fees. She is so excited by how this first loan has changed her business and is ready to take another loan soon to continue improving her life.
