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Biodata of Rufarm Women Note: this is the first bio-data and we will be providing more soon RUFARM HAS CHANGED MY DARK DAYS TO A BRIGTHER ONE - FELICIA EDEBOR. INTERVIEW BY CATHERINE UGHULU Mrs. Felicia
Edebor is a client of RUFARM, she owns a grocery shop and a mother
of five children. She is in her early sixties [60s] and a wife to
Mr. Osakue Edebor.
Mrs. Felicia
is a woman you would like to meet any day. A woman of pleasant personality,
her simplicity and quiet disposition endears her to everyone who
comes across her way. In our interview,
she started by thanking RUFARM for being there for her during her
trying periods. She also thanked the organisation for removing women
from poverty to prosperity through its micro-credit programme. Mrs. Felicia
hails from Orhionmwon Local Government Area in Edo State. Presently,
in the ancient city of Benin the state capital of Edo State. Mrs. Felicia said that before she came to RUFARM , she was living from hand to mouth and it was not easy catering for her family. She wanted to start a trade but there was no money, so she became an idle house wife who could not support the family budget. She did not have any education that could have gotten her a job, also she did not learn any trade or skills that could have made her self employed. Therefore, the full burden of fending for the family of seven was borne alone by her husband, a retired civil servant even though he receives meager pension. With the worsening
economy, her husband's income could no longer sustain the family
budget. Felicia started thinking of what to do and she decided to
open a grocery store in her neighbourhood. Then the search for a
loan started, she went to different places but was not successful,
the few money lenders available were demanding for exorbitant interests
and collateral, which she could not afford. When she was told about
RUFARM she was not interested because she felt RUFARM was not different
from the other organisations she had been to. She came to RUFARM
and registered in the pre-loan training which qualified her for
her first loan of #20,000[$150] in January 2004. After the loan
she was able to open a grocery shop. Felicia is now able to buy
her groceries in bulk to satisfy the needs of her fast increasing
customers. She has been able to expand her market outreach with
a corresponding increase in profit margin. Felicia is now
a proud member of RUFARM. She advised other women not to completely
depend on their husband's income no matter how large it may be.
She said they must strive to enhance their economic fortunes. She concluded
by saying her immediate plan is to reinvest her money in the business
to enable it grow bigger in the future. Felicia promised to faithfully
repay her loan to enable her apply for a bigger one in the next
cycle. She did not forget to thank Mrs. Nogi Imoukhuede, the chairperson
of RUFARM , the Board of Trustees and the hardworking staff of RUFARM
for this laudable project. |
