Supporting Family and Building a Future: Ng’andu Mwiinga’s Story
At just 25 years old, Ng’andu Mwiinga of Mpasu village has stepped into a role many would not choose so young. After the passing of his father, he became the primary support for his widowed mother and younger siblings, providing food, clothing, and school expenses like uniforms and books.
“Before the introduction of the CB in our village, I depended on a small garden, earning an estimated amount of K4,000–K5,000 ($200-$250) per year. This income was irregular and insufficient to meet important household needs or enable me to do meaningful investment,” Ng’andu explained.
When the Community Bank (CB) was established, Ng’andu accessed his first loan of K1,500 ($75). He invested part in guinea fowl production, purchasing 250 eggs, about 200 hatched successfully, while the remaining funds supported vegetable farming through seeds and fertilizer. By the end of the first loan cycle, he had earned approximately K5,000 ($250) in profit and begun generating steady income from poultry and crop sales.
Encouraged by his results, Ng’andu took a second K1,500 ($75) loan and expanded his crop production, including green beans that matured during a period of high market demand. Over six months, he earned about K12,000 ($606) in profit. Each loan was repaid fully and on time, strengthening both his own business and the revolving nature of the Community Bank so others could also borrow.
In the third cycle, he accessed K3,000 ($150) to invest primarily in corn production. A portion also supported urgent household needs and school fees for a sibling entering Grade 10, demonstrating how business growth directly stabilizes his family’s future.
This rainy season brought a setback when disease affected his guinea fowl. “Despite this setback, I am rebuilding slowly and learning how to manage poultry better, and I have since managed to purchase thirty-five chickens,” he shared.
To date, Ng’andu has generated approximately K23,000 ($1,161) in combined value through Community Bank loans. Looking ahead, he says, “My next goal is to buy a water pump so that I can be farming throughout the year on a large portion of land.” He also dreams of studying agriculture, whether in crop science or animal husbandry, using profits from his work or through a government student loan.
Ng’andu’s journey reflects what happens when access to capital is paired with discipline, opportunity, and determination: a young farmer strengthening his family today while investing in a more secure tomorrow.