Selina Karoli Fissoo has been a client of BRAC for the last ten years. Over this period, her husband passed away and she faced numerous challenges that led her to close her shop temporarily. But that did not deter Selina’s mission to give her children a better life.
In 2011, Selina was instrumental in gathering women from her neighbourhood in Arusha to form a microfinance group so they could get basic financial literacy training and receive loans from BRAC. With her first loan of TZS 150,000 (USD 70), she opened a small kiosk to sell grocery items near her home.
“We were struggling to make ends meet before I started my business”, said Selina. “Through my small shop we were able to slowly increase our income”, she added. But when the situation was getting better, Selina’s husband passed away leaving her as the main breadwinner for the family.
“It was a very difficult time for me”, recalled Selina. “I had to close my shop for a while and I thought I would not be able to get back to my feet again”.
But Selina persevered and managed to bring her business back to life. She applied for a bigger loan each time she completed her loan cycle and invested part of her funds to expand her business. With dedication and hard work, she was able to turn the small kiosk into a big retail store and also build a few rooms in her compound for rent.
Today, Seline is a very successful businesswoman. Alongside her shop and house rents, she also earns decent profits from poultry farming and selling milk to her neighbours and nearby restaurants. Her current loan with BRAC is over TZS 2.5 million (USD 1200).
“I am a fighter and I work hard. I am a single mother who has managed to ensure my children are educated. I have managed to provide for my family and give them a better life,” said a confident Selina.
