Gulchekhra Sartbayeva and Her Sewing Shop

FINCA: Small Loans - Big Changes:

FINCA Kyrgyzstan started in 1995 with a $6.2mm grant from USAID, which expired in September 2002. FINCA aims to serve 40,000 clients with a total of $36 million in loans by 2010. In Kyrgyzstan, women are very active in the economy, especially trade. As 70% of the unemployed in Kyrgyzstan are women, FINCA has targeted female bazaar workers as its primary clients.

Client Profile:

Gulchekhra and her brother leased a boutique in the commercial center in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, where they sold shoes in 2004. Unfortunately, their business was not very successful and they were forced to close the shop when the center shut down.

As an alternative source of income, Gulchekhra started to sew traditional dresses and suits for a children's dance troupe. Her friend introduced her to a FINCA Solidarity-Credit Group.

With money she and her brother had saved from their shoe business and the proceeds of her FINCA loan, Gulchekhra established a sewing shop, which is now very successful.

Gulchekhra is very creative and is designing costumes for the dance troupe. Her business is continuing to grow and she has now received her sixth loan from FINCA. The group members all enjoy her participation and the responsible way she conducts her business. She says the loans from FINCA have made her life better and she looks forward to a long relationship with FINCA.

Photo from FINCA