booklet finca 2015 - final

2015 CLIENT STORY BOOKLETwww.kosovo.finca.org

Salih MusliuDairy Farmer

Creating brighter futures

Dear Friends,

As the year 2015 marks fifteen years of FINCA Kosovo, it is my pleasure to showcase the impact that financial inclusion has had on the lives of many Kosovars. FINCA strives to create brighter futures, and at our FINCA Kosovo office, we are doing just that each and every day. Over the past fifteen years, in more ways than one, our motivated staff has been working hard to provide more opportunities, deliver resilient support, and enable the success of clients through the empowerment of financial inclusion.

FINCA Kosovo has not only adapted FINCA services to best meet our clients needs, but also works directly with the Kosovo communities that our branches serve. Our technical literacy education project provides lectures and training sessions to help FINCA clients and potential borrowers acquire and improve their knowledge required for development of their businesses. These training sessions empower their well-being and the sustainability of their ventures.

In addition to this project, everyday our loan officers go over and beyond their responsibility of facilitating the loan process, acting also as advisors and helping our clients each step of the way.

Most of all, our clients and their stories are the perfect representation of how we work to create brighter futures at FINCA Kosovo. All of the effort in the part of our staff shines through in the successes of our clients, which continue to impress me each and every day. The decisions our clients make after improving their lives with our loans, like sending their children to school and employing neighbors, are helping to create brighter futures all around our country.

I am so proud to present their stories to you, and I thank and welcome all who contribute to the success of our institution and the empowerment of our clients. We are making a difference in the lives of many, just take a look beyond this page.

Sincerely,

Florin LilaChief Executive Officer

MISSION

FINCA's mission is to alleviate poverty

through las�ng solu�ons that help people

build assets, create jobs and raise their

standard of living.

VISION

FINCA's vision is to build a global network

of sustainable and scalable social

enterprises that improve lives worldwide.

Letter from FINCA Kosovo CEO

CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 1

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Founded in 1999, now the largest microfinance organization in

»

Providing responsible access to finance for low-income, entrepreneurs, agricultural businesses and SMEs, to support the self-employed and create jobs

VITAL STATISTICS

€16.4MILLION

LOANPORTFOLIO

OVER 115,000 BORROWERS, OF WHICH

ARE RURAL ENTREPRENEURS

LOANS DISBURSED194,654

AVERAGE

€1,683

19OPERATING

BRANCHES

PRODUCTSKOSOVO IMPACT

»

»

160STAFFEMPLOYED

OVER

Agricultural loans have repayment schedules timed to coincide with the planting and harvesting cycles of agriculture. These loans let rural clients purchase seeds, fertilizer, livestock and equipment when they need to, leading to higher farm yields and increased income.

Brighter Futures Through Financial

Inclusion

ARE ACTIVE FEMALE BORROWERS

for low-income entrepreneurs and their communities. It is based in Washington, D.C., serving 1.8 million clients in 23 countries, with an outstanding loan portfolio of nearly US $1 billion. FINCA International, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, is the majority owner of the FINCA microfinance network. The local FINCA subsidiaries are commercial entities operating with a formal double bottom line of financial sustainability and social impact performance.

FINCA Kosovo, NGO is an innovative, microfinance organization operating across the country, and is registered with the Central Bank of Kosovo.

Making a difference in local businesses and society:

Kosovo

Member of the Association of Microfinance in Kosovo (AMIK)

Involved in local outreach activitiesInvolved in local social responsible activities»

2 Kosovo.FINCA.org I Creating Brighter Futures

Kosovar citizens, aged 18 and older, who operate a small business or farm enterprise are eligible to receive loans

Providing individual and group loan products, as well as SME products, including for rural agricultural markets

Small group loans deliver small, group-based loans targeted to very low-income entrepreneurs with the smallest enterprises.

Individual loans are tailored to borrowers whose businesses are growing. Larger loan sizes and more flexible terms help entrepreneurs continue growth and generate jobs in the community.

IN 2015

KOSOVOFINCA IN

FINCA IS A LEADING INTERNATIONAL MICROFINANCE PROVIDER


DISBURSED LOAN

33,025

17%&

4 Kosovo.FINCA.org I Creating Brighter Futures CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 5DRE

NA

S

DRE

NA

S

Drita Qorri, 54, a loyal FINCA customer, lives in Drenas. Drita immediately took a loan after the conflict, and has been taking out loans ever since the first FINCA office was established in Kosovo fifteen years ago.

Drita makes handmade decorations, embroidered tablecloths, and knit clothing and blankets, and has always sold them to close family and friends for traditional weddings and engagements. However, after the conflict, Drita returned home to find her house destroyed and all of her supplies missing. She wanted to begin her handmade textile business again, but she did not have enough money to purchase all of the materials.

One day Drita visited the local Women's Association, and it was mentioned that an “American bank is here and giving small loans.” During this time, this was big news because Kosovo did not have banks and all trade was done via cash. Drita set out to find FINCA, took out her first loan, and has been a loyal customer ever since. Over the years, she has taken more than eight loans and her handmade textile business had gained more and more popularity in the area.

Thanks to the money she has earned from her business, Drita was able to support her family while her husband was unemployed. She has also been able to renovate her home, create a garden, and pay for her four children's weddings. In Kosovo it is very common to live with your extended family, and Drita lives with her husband, her 97 year-old mother in law, and her son's family, and continues to support them with her income. Between her four children, she is awaiting the arrival of her eighth grandchild, and all of her grandchildren that are old enough, attend school.

I want to say 'Thank You' to FINCA from the bottom of my

heart. They serve us so well and I will continue to use FINCA as long as I work.”

Sami Haziraj, 33, and his wife opened up a shop in Drenas eight years ago. In his shop he sells handmade decorations for various traditional celebrations in the area. Most notably, he decorates cars and homes for weddings and engagements with his colorful and elaborate designs. Due to the seasonality of his business, Sami experienced issues with maintaining enough stock to meet demand during the busy summer months.

In 2014, Sami took out a loan from FINCA so that he could buy his supplies in bulk to prepare for the busy season. This helped his business succeed and gain popularity among the community. In one month, he decorated 115 cars, and on one especially busy day he decorated 23 cars. It was FINCA's loan and buying his supplies in bulk that allowed him to keep up with this high demand. One bolt of material costs him 45 euros to buy, but he is able to sell the decorations he makes with that material for 400 euros.

Sami is very pleased with FINCA's services, and immediately upon repaying a loan, he always takes out a new one. He has been a very loyal customer for the past three years, and Sami says, “I will continue to take loans from FINCA because they are the fastest in the industry and the staff is more helpful than at other traditional banks.”

Sami works in his shop with his wife, and together they support their three year old son. Sami is proud of the success of his business and the fact that he has many satisfied clients. People are always thanking him for his business, and it makes him proud that he is doing a good job in his work. In the future, Sami hopes to grow the business and expand his shop. He also hopes to invest in a refrigerator for flowers, so that he can add fresh, decorated flowers to his inventory.

I will continue to take loans from FINCA because they are the fastest in the industry and the staff is more helpful than at other traditional banks.”

Drita Qorri - Handmade embroiderer and knitter Sami Haziraj - Owner of a handmade decorations store

“

“

Teki Rama- Small trader G

JAKO

VAShaip Govedari - Livestock farmer

GJA

KOVA

CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 76 Kosovo.FINCA.org I Creating Brighter Futures CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 7

Teki Rama, 44, along with his wife, owns and operates a small store in Gjakova that sells inexpensive clothing, shoes, and cosmetics. Teki and his wife started this store in 2011 with the savings they had from his wife's handmade textile sales, but in the beginning they had less products, and when they sold an item, they did not have the inventory to immediately restock the shelves.

This year they decided to take a small loan from FINCA in order to buy more products and increase their inventory. These types of shops are very popular in the area, so it is important to have a full stock of inventory. Though it is just the beginning, Teki says that already he can already feel a sense of relief since he does not have to worry so much about running out of stock. In the last month, he even saw an increase in his income.

Together, Teki and his wife have a beautiful 18-month old daughter, who they support with this business. Teki says that he is proud of his business because he can support his daughter, who means the world to him. In the future, Teki hopes to expand the space of the store, and he wants to include a section with baby items.

Teki says that FINCA has helped him not a little, but a lot. When asked what advice he has for others who are in need of a loan, Teki says, “If you use your loan in the right way, for a business, then you will have success. Be loyal to your �nancial institution, and if you act this way, you will be successful.”

Shaip Govedari, 43, a member of the Roma/Ashkali/Egyptian minority community, lives in Gjakova with his wife, two sons, and daughter. He is the proud owner of a new home, thanks to a FINCA renovation loan.

Before the conflict, Shaip worked as a mechanic, but afterwards he was unemployed and used some of his earnings to invest in machines and begin a wood chopping service. With his service, he goes to people's homes to chop down trees and create firewood. This kind of service is high in demand, and every year he gains more and more clients.

In 2014, after having success with his business, Shaip decided to construct a new home for his family. His current home was in really bad condition, and the walls were beginning to crumble. However, midway through the construction of his new home, Shaip ran out of capital to finish the project. His family was stuck in the older home with terrible conditions until he could finish the new house.

In order to solve his problem, Shaip decided to go to FINCA to take out a home renovation loan so that he could finish the construction of his new house. With the renovation loan, Shaip bought windows and doors, painted the walls, and finished the roof of his new home. Now, a year later, his family is living comfortably in their new home, and Shaip is able to make monthly payments on his loan with his income from the wood chopping service. Shaip says that the loan from FINCA improved his life 99%. He is very happy with his new home, and proud that he is such a hard worker. He hopes to continue improving his wood chopping service, and to gain even more clients in the coming years.

“If you use your loan in the right way, for a business, then you will have success. Be loyal to your �nancial institution, and if you act this way, you will be successful.”

Mehdi Bajgora – Owner of a grocery store FU

SHE

KOSO

VAValon Halimi - Livestock farmer

LIPJ

AN

Mehdi Bajgora, 55, is a FINCA client who has used FINCA's loan to make a huge improvement to his business. He lives in Fushe Kosova with his wife, four children, and a granddaughter, and for the past twenty-five years, Mehdi has made a living running and operating a small grocery store. He previously received loans from other microfinance institutions to help cover the rent of his storefront, but none could help him quite as much as FINCA did.

In 2013, Mehdi was tired of spending his hard earned money on rent. Instead of taking a loan to help pay for the lease of his storefront, Mehdi decided to take out a loan from FINCA so that he could build his own storefront. He constructed a building with two stores; one is now his grocery store, and the other he leases to a neighbor. Mehdi's new grocery store is fully functioning and in nice condition, and the added income he receives from renting out the

additional storefront has helped to improve his life.

Mehdi's grocery store is a family business, and he employs both his wife and daughter. Two of his other children have graduated from university, and the youngest son is currently studying in Turkey. The success of his business has given his family a better quality of life, and the ability to pursue higher education.

Mehdi is most proud of owning his own shop building and being able to provide the space for his neighbor's business to flourish. He said “It is always a great feeling to be able to help other families, in addition to your own.”

When asked what advice he would give to other fellow entrepreneurs, Mehdi responded by saying, “Go to FINCA and get a loan. They have the best conditions and it is a great idea to collaborate with them if you want to see your business grow and prosper.”


It is always a great feeling to be able to help other families, in addition to your own.”

“

Before FINCA, Valon received loans from a bank, but he experienced hardships due to their inflexibility. In 2014, he found FINCA with the help of a loan officer, and was very impressed by the staff and their willingness to provide thorough explanations about their services. He values his friendship with his loan officer and is very thankful for all the help he has provided him.

In 2014, Valon took a loan from FINCA to invest in his livestock. His farm began with two cows, but with the loan, Valon was able to expand his farm to a total of 20 cows. He is very proud of his business because he takes great care of his cows and now they are very valuable, each selling for

at least 1,200 euros. Each cow also produces up to 20 liters of milk/day, and after a couple months, Valon was able to use the money from selling milk to buy a piece of land near his home and a truck to help transport the cows.

Thanks to his FINCA loan, Valon's business is flourishing and he has provided his

family with a better life. In addition to farming, Valon is also studying to become a veterinarian, a profession that is in high demand in the region. The income from his successful dairy farm helps him pay tuition.

Now Valon hopes to continue to grow his dairy farm, and eventually become the dairy collector and processor for his entire village.

“I always advise my neighbors that if they want a business like mine, they should go to FINCA. The staff is very good and helpful, and if you manage your loan well, your business will succeed.” says Mr. Valon.

I always advise my neighbors that if they want

a business like mine, they should go to FINCA. The

staff is very good and helpful, and if you manage

your loan well, your business will succeed.”


“

Valon Halimi, 31, lives in -- a village outside of Lipjan -- with his wife, his parents, Gumnasele

and his two brothers. As the eldest brother, at age 18, Valon took over the small 70 year-old

family-owned, dairy farm. Valon knew he could grow his family's small business if he had

access to a loan.

Mesherete Olluri - Clothing store owner LI

PJA

NQendrim Kozhani - Owner of a small kiosk

LIPJ

AN

The Lipjan municipality declared Qendrim's father a hero, and in an effort to care for his family, the municipality recently donated a kiosk to Qendrim in honor and remembrance of his father. The municipality also named one of the main streets in the city after Qendrim's father. Qendrim now runs and owns the small kiosk that is located right next to a primary school, but as his business began to grow, he was in need of a loan to fully stock the kiosk with inventory and to purchase a refrigerator.

Qendrim learned about FINCA from his mother, who is also a client. In early 2015, Qendrim decided to take out a loan from FINCA for 3,000 euros so that he could stock his kiosk with snacks, and also buy a refrigerator so he could sell cold beverages and ice cream.

Everyone in the city comes to visit Qendrim's kiosk in order to support him and pay respect to his father. He also gets a lot of business from the children that go to the school nearby. His business is very successful, and after only one month he was able to buy a new car for his family and pay for some of his tuition at a private university where he is studying law.

He hopes to expand his business into a market, and open more kiosks around the city so that he can employ others.

Qendrim is very thankful for the help that FINCA has provided him with. “Everytime I see FINCA, my heart fills with love. My entire life has changed for the better thanks to FINCA,” says Qendrim.

Qendrim Kozhani, 25, lives in his hometown of Lipjan with his wife and two daughters, ages 4 and 2. Qendrim's father was killed during the war in Kosovo, and during that time, Qendrim and his family not only lost their father, but also everything they had.

Mesherete Olluri, 38, a young widow, lives in Lipjan with her five children, ages 18,17, 14, 12, and 10. After her husband died suddenly, Mesherete had to find a way to support her five school-aged children. With previous experience in homemade textiles and the help of a FINCA loan, Mesherete decided to open up her own clothing store.

Mesherete first found out about FINCA through flyers around Lipjan. In early 2015, she visited the local branch and with the help of her loan officer, she took out a loan from FINCA for 1,500 euros to help pay the rent for her home, and to open her clothing store and buy inventory.

The shop is doing very well and the income she earns helps her to live a better life and send all of her children to school. The success of her business has taught her how to be strong and determined after the loss of her husband. She plans to continue borrowing from FINCA in order to improve and grow her business, and in the future, Mesherete would like to build her own house for her family so that they do not have to rent one.

“FINCA helped me in the middle of a crisis. I took out the loan to help pay rent and start my shop. They helped me access money in my time of need,” says Mesherete. When asked what advice she would give to other women who want to start their own businesses, Mesherete says, “If a woman wants to work, a woman should go work. They should take a loan, and not always rely on their husband for money. It feels good to make your own money.”

If a woman wants to work, a woman should go work.

They should take a loan, and not always rely on their

husband for money. It feels good to make your own

money.”

Everytime I see FINCA, my heart �lls with love. My entire life has changed for the better thanks to FINCA.”

CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 1110 Kosovo.FINCA.org I Creating Brighter Futures

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Murat Gashi - Apple grower/ owns apple orchardPE

JA


Murat Gashi, 53, inherited 3 hectares (7.4 acres) of land from his father, in a village just outside of Peja. After the conflict, the land was badly damaged, but Murat was inspired to make use of it and he started to plant apple trees. What started out as four apple trees, eventually turned into an apple orchard with over 3,000 apple trees.

Before FINCA, Murat was taking out loans at other, more traditional, financial institutions. His cousin pointed him in the direction of FINCA, and after Murat first visited FINCA's office, he realized the conditions of the loans were much more suitable for his agricultural business. He has been a loyal customer ever since.

Since his initial visit to FINCA, Murat has taken two loans in order to pay workers on time, provide packaging for the apples, and pay the factory to come and pick up the apples. The FINCA loans have also helped him to create his own fresh water source, and to provide improvements to the operations of his constantly growing business.

In the future, Murat plans to continue taking out loans from FINCA in order to help his business grow. In addition to his plans of reinvesting in his apple orchard and purchasing a refrigerator to prolong the freshness of the apples, Murat also wants to start raising chickens and fish. With his own source of clean water from a well, raising fish would be a great addition to his business.

Murat's most proud moment is in the spring, when all the apple trees start to blossom and he can look out at his orchard and see what he has created all by himself. He is also proud that he can employ over 500 people during the busy season, and that the work at his orchard helps them to become better people. At one point, Murat even turned down an offer for 1.5 million euros for his orchard because he still wants to grow and expand his business. He is proud that he has created something so valuable.

Adis Salihi, 27, and a former professional soccer player, opened up a small coffee shop four years ago in his hometown of Peja. At the beginning, his cafe struggled because there were not many customers and it was difficult to attract business. Refusing the financial help of his father, Adis looked for alternative ways to improve his business on his own, and found FINCA.

After taking out a FINCA loan, Adis moved the location of his coffee shop and expanded his business to include a lunch bar that also serves food. In addition to hiring more workers and constructing a kitchen, Adis invested in inventory, like chairs, tables, and decorations, and transformed the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Sure enough, the new, stylish, atmosphere has intrigued more clients and improved the overall well being of the business, as it is now one of the most popular bars at night.

Thanks to his FINCA loan and the expansion of his business, Adis employs four people from the local community, providing these employees with income to support their families. Adis is really proud that he can employ others and help them provide for their families, and he is also proud that he now has long-term clients who always feel welcomed and are really satisfied with the atmosphere and the service.

Adis says that his loan officer has been the biggest help throughout all of his loan procedures. “My loan officer made everything really simple and helped me to understand the loan process quickly,” he says, “If I have any troubles, I just call my loan officer. He feels like a family member who can help me anytime I need assistance.”

If I have any troubles, I just call my loan officer. He

feels like a family member who can help me anytime

I need assistance.”

“

Adis Salihi - Owns coffee shop/lunch bar

CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 13 PEJA

In the spring of 2014, a FINCA Kosovo loan officer approached Dina with an offer and she decided to pursue a FINCA loan in order to renovate her salon. The FINCA loan appealed to Dina because compared to traditional banks and financial institutions, FINCA offered flexibility, low interest rates, and an understanding staff. Her first individual business loan was used to renovate the entire salon to create a better atmosphere. Dina painted the walls, replaced mirrors and chairs, and invested in her products. In October of 2014, she took out a second loan, and continued the improvements in her salon. Just one year later, Dina is enjoying the success of her salon. With the help of FINCA, she now has more clients than ever before, and she employs four other women who work as stylists. Due to Dina's continued success in the salon business, she also earns additional income by giving instruction to young women who want to become successful stylists like her. She is most proud of the long-term and loyal relationships she has built with her clients, and is happy that she can earn an income by following her passion. Dina dreams of one day traveling to the United States for a year and working for a fashion television program, but for now she is excited to witness the growing success of her salon with the help of FINCA Kosovo's trust and assistance.

Elmedine (Dina) Gashi - Owner of a salonPR

ISH

TIN

A

In the middle of Kosovo's busy capital city of Prishtina, Elmedine (Dina) Gashi, a determined entrepreneur, followed her passion for hair, makeup, and nails and opened a salon. Over the years, with the fast changing styles and prevalence of salons nearby, Dina's salon became outdated and she fell behind her competition because she did not have enough savings to update the salon. She was losing customers to salons that had better equipment and products, and she had few loyal customers that she could rely on for consistent business.


Halil Kadriu - Owns greenhouse/florist

CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 15 PRIS

HTI

NA

Halil Kadriu, 45, lives with his wife and 8 other family members on the outskirts of Prishtina, Kosovo, the capital of one of the poorest countries in Europe. After the conflict in Kosovo ended in 1999, Halil and his family started a business growing and selling flowers in hopes to improve their modest living situation. However, the work was overwhelming for the ten family members, and they were not able to run the business efficiently in the busy season due to the lack of ability to employ additional workers.

Halil heard about FINCA through both advertisements and as well as a visit from a credit analyst in early 2015. Once he realized that FINCA offered flexibility and a lower interest rate compared to traditional banks, he applied to take out an individual agriculture loan for 2,100 euros in order to prepare for the spring season. His request was approved within 40 hours, and he immediately put the money to good use.

He used his first loan to employ workers, buy seeds in bulk, and expand his greenhouse space. He even installed a water irrigation system so that the greenhouse could operate more

efficiently. Thanks to FINCA, Halil is growing and selling more flowers and is able to employ 5-10 employees (depending on the season) to help run the greenhouse during the busiest months. He even travels to find new flowers so he can diversify his products.

Halil hopes to continue expanding his business with the help of FINCA loans, and is specifically looking to start growing and selling other products during different seasons, like tomatoes and peppers. Halil attributes his better quality of life and increased income to FINCA, and wants others to know, “FINCA can help you even on your worst days.”

FINCA can help you even on your worst days.”“

PRIZ

REN


Ramije Pireci (36) and her husband, Eshref, (43) live in Prizren with their three children, and together own and operate an artisanal business, making elaborate and traditional Albanian clothing by hand. Without any prior exposure, Eshref first discovered his “god given gift” of tailoring and designing traditional clothing at age ten. Together Ramije and Eshref decided to start a business twelve years ago taking orders for traditional clothing. At the beginning they only had 10 euro in their pocket and could not keep up with all of their orders from clients because materials were so expensive.

In order to solve their problem, they took a loan from FINCA to purchase the expensive materials to begin fulfilling their clients' orders. They took one small loan for 700 euros. With that small loan, they were able to purchase the supplies, fill their orders, and therefore bring in enough income to sustain the business. As their business has grown and achieved more success, they have continued to use FINCA loans in order to buy more materials, pay employees who make it possible to fill the orders, and keep the business running smoothly. They are currently in their seventh loan cycle. Due to the success of their business, the couple has been able to construct a big house for their family and a workshop for their business. “We have constructed our whole life thanks to FINCA loans,” Eshref says. Eshref, the main designer of all clothing items, attended fashion classes in Milan and travels to Italy for various fashion shows throughout the year. His 18 year-old daughter is starting classes at the design faculty this fall, and Eshref is most proud that she will continue in his profession, and eventually take over the business.

With FINCA loans, Eshref and Ramije are able to employ others from the community in their business. Depending on the season, they employ up to fourteen women to ensure client orders are delivered on time. Eshref explains that the motivation for his work is his family. If he did not have them he isn't sure he would be this successful. His main goal is to have his own, bigger workshop by 2018 and he is working really hard and saving up to achieve this goal.

“In Kosovo, we are such hard workers because almost everyone has to create something out of nothing. I had to do everything from the beginning, and I have created something great for myself and my family.” Eshref says.

Eshref & Ramije Pireci - Tailor/designer/artisan of traditional clothing

CLIENT STORY BOOKLET 17 RAH

OVE

C

Fehmi Sokoli, 51, works in the agriculture sector, growing grapes, onions, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, in the city of Rahovec. In order to expand his land and production and also send his son to school in Turkey, Fehmi took a loan from FINCA in 2013.

In order to expand his production, Fehmi used part of his loan to buy land. His business is very successful and he sells his onions to a distributor in Prizren, and other products in bulk amounts to distributors in other cities. He employs five to six seasonal workers to collect the produce in his fields, and eventually wants to hire more. He also wants to grow his grape production by two hectares, so that he can have a total of five hectares and is able to produce other grape based products.

Fehmi is proud of his business because he is always able to sell his products, and therefore support his wife, their five children, and his two grandchildren. The market always needs fresh produce, and therefore it is easy for him to sell his produce immediately. In the future, Fehmi would like to create a depot to collect all of the fresh produce in the area, and he would like to hire employees to run the business so that he can manage the business and have more time to spend with his family.

FINCA's services have helped Fehmi to improve his lifetime agriculture business and provide for his family. Fehmi is very satisfied with FINCA's services and appreciates all the hard work that his loan officer does for him.

Fehmi Sokoli - Agriculture

Zoran Cumpatovic - Cultivator

Their warm welcome and kindness made Zoran change his mind about banks and financial institutions where he soon got his loan from FINCA. He developed a warm relationship with FINCA’s human resources and since then has continued to support FINCA and its mission.

“The human contact that their employees offered me and the way they supported me and my family, I will always be grateful, thank you FINCA.”

With his first ever loan with FINCA, he bought a cultivator in which he was able to cultivate his small modest garden. With his family garden, he was able to grow organic potatoes, tomatoes and beans from which he was able to well feed his close family. With the hay that he cuts, he is able to sell it to the local farmers for their purposes. He is also available to hand a helping hand to his neighbors with his machine, by also cultivating their lands with his loan from FINCA.

SHTR

PCE

Zoran Cumpatovic, a modest man living in a small village close to the beautiful touristic

hotspot of Brezovica in Kosovo, works as a security guard who supports his stay at home with

his wife and their 4 children. At first his first relationship with a bank was a complete

disappointment. That because he felt that there was no real connection concerning his needs.

But all of this changed after he met FINCA’s employees.

The human contact that their employees offered me and the way they supported me and my family, I will always be grateful, thank you FINCA.”

“

18 Kosovo.FINCA.org I Creating Brighter Futures SHTR

PCE

Sadik Rrahmani, 42, an Albanian man, lives in Brod, a village outside of Shtrpce, with his wife and four daughters. In 1997 he started his own construction company building homes and other structures, but in the beginning he could only take on small projects because he did not have enough capital to employ many other workers.

In 2000, Sadik went to FINCA and took out his first loan. With this loan he bought support beams and other supplies, and employed

others, which enabled him to take on a larger project. This larger project ultimately led to more income, and furthered the growth of his business.

Before the FINCA loan, Sadik could only take on projects that cost 5,000 to 8,000 euros to construct because he had no means of employing others. Now, after FINCA loans, Sadik can take on projects that cost up to 100,000 euros to construct, because he has enough capital to employ others and buy the supplies before he receives his first payment.

The FINCA loan and ability to take on larger projects has provided more income to Sadik, and therefore helped his family. He has constructed a home for his family, and all four of his daughters are in school, and are excellent students. Sadik provides them with food, clothes, notebooks and everything that they need at home and school.

In the future, Sadik hopes to grow his business. He now employs up to 16 employees depending on the project, but he hopes in the future he can employ 40-50 employees. He is really proud that his workers are pleased with their conditions and their pay. Sadik can pay them on time, unlike many other construction businesses, and for this reason, his workers are not leaving to Germany or Switzerland, like many often do.

Sadik Rrahmani - Construction


SHTR

PCE

20 Kosovo.FINCA.org I Creating Brighter Futures SHTR

PCE

Rasa Zivkovic - Berry grower

Rasa Zivkovic, 43, a Serbian man, lives in Gotovusa, a village outside of Shtrpce, comprised of a harmonious population of both Serbs and Albanians. Previously working in construction installing floors, Rasa only made 2000 euros a year. Meanwhile, he saw many of his neighbors having great success growing raspberries, a very profitable crop. In 2014, Rasa decided to switch paths and start growing them, too.

After hearing about FINCA from multiple friends in the village, Rasa decided to take out an agriculture loan in order to start his growing raspberries. With his loan, he bought new raspberry plants, fertilized the soil, and cultivated his 10 acres of land.

Making this change in his life, and investing in growing raspberries has helped Rasa feel more financially secure, as his annual income has gone rapidly. If he wants to increase his income all he has to do is increase his raspberry yield, and he knows if he continues to grow his business, he will be able to give his family a better life, and send his children to school.

Rasa is most proud that he has created something that will give his family a better future, and he hopes that he can eventually grow his business from 10 acres to 50 acres.

Do not be afraid to take a loan. FINCA loan officers give good advice. If you live in Kosovo, take a loan and invest in raspberries and blueberries.”

I have never been as successful as I am today.

Before FINCA, I wasn't even able to imagine that I would

have such a successful business. All of my success is in

thanks to FINCA loans and support.”

Sefedin Krasniqi, 44, has 25 years of experience raising cattle and selling milk in the village of Ceceli. Due to unstable political conditions, Sefedin could not continue university, and at age nineteen he had to start working to provide for his family. He started a farm, and also worked as a folk singer by night, earning money by singing at neighborhood weddings. He invested the money he earned from singing in his farm, and bought hay and food for his animals. Although the farm only began with four cows, it has grown to 27 cows over the years thanks to hard work and dedication.

Sefedin first heard about FINCA while drinking tea with a friend. Sefedin shared his plans for his farm with his friend, but explained he needed more money to make these plans a reality. His friend smiled and recommended FINCA to him, saying that at FINCA he could find all the support and help he needed without losing time and completing a lot of documents. It did not take much time to convince Sefedin to take a loan from FINCA.

In 2014, he took his first FINCA Agriculture Loan and used it to buy more food for his livestock. Sefedin was so satisfied with the services he received from his first loan, that he decided to take another loan in 2015 to continue his investment in his farm. With his second loan, Sefedin bought more cows, built new stables for the cows, and improved the overall conditions of his farm. Without a doubt, these improvements helped raise the production of milk, and therefore Sefedin sold more milk, thus providing more income for his family. As a highly respected farmer in the area, Sefedin's success also influenced many neighbors to take a loan from FINCA to help improve their businesses.

Sefedin is proud that his business is sustainable and he is reliable. He feels good knowing that his clients trust him and his dairy products. His main hopes for the future are to continue to grow his business and have good health, and to send his four children to receive higher education at the university level.

Sefedin Krasniqi - Dairy Farmer

VUSH

TRRI


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Salih Musliu- Dairy farmer

VUSH

TRRI


Armend Bala - Dairy Farmer VU

SHTR

RI

Armend Bala, 30, lives in the small village of Dumnice outside of Vushtrri with his parents, two brothers, his wife, and one month old son. Eight years ago, Armend decided to start his own dairy farm. At the beginning he only had four cows that produced 80 L/day, but his business quickly grew. Armend bought more and more milk cows, which grew his milk production and his farm as a whole. In the spring of 2014, he realized that he needed to increase the amount of food he grew for his cows in order for them to survive during the winter season. Armend was worried about how he would get enough money to buy the seed to plant the hay.

Armend's days on the farm were hard work, and he often felt stressed and tired when thinking about how to get the money to plant the food for his cows. At the end of the day, he had two options; decrease the number of cows, which meant less milk and less income, or try to take a loan in order to plant enough hay, even though a traditional bank had already declined him.

Luckily, Armend heard about FINCA through a field visit from a loan officer, and after explaining the simple process of obtaining a loan, Armend found the solution to all of his problems. He took an Agriculture Loan from FINCA so that he could pay for fertilizer and seed, and start planting the hay. Armend was really relieved and happy that he would have enough food for his cows. At the end of the fall of 2014, he started harvesting the hay and realized that he had more than enough food for his cows during the winter season. Armend was able to sell the excess hay to the neighboring farmers, thus bringing in more income, in addition to his milk sales.

Armend is proud that he doesn't owe anyone any money, and that he manages his business all on his own. He loves his job and his farm, and he has big hopes and a good vision for the future, which makes him work harder every day. “I know with the help of FINCA I will be able to grow my farm, buy more cows, produce more milk, and therefore make more income.” Armend says if he has any problems of difficulties he only has to make a phone call to his loan officer and all his worries will be gone. “All my worries and problems are gone since I decided to become a part of the successful clients that cooperate with FINCA.”

All my worries and problems are gone since I decided to

become a part of the successful clients that cooperate with

FINCA.”


“Salih Musliu, 45, lives in the village of Dumnice outside of Vushtrri with his wife, ten children, and four grandchildren. Five years ago, he decided to leave his work in the trading business to start a dairy farm.

He started with seven cows, and when he decided he wanted to grow his business, he used a 3,000 euro agriculture loan from FINCA to buy more livestock. Now he has twenty cows, and his milk and hay production has increased significantly.

The growth of his business has helped his family financially, and has provided many more benefits for all sixteen relatives. He hopes to take another loan to continue to increase the number of cows and to grow his farm. With the money he is earning he is able to employ his whole family.

Salih is very pleased with FINCA's services and the FINCA staff because they give very clear details regarding the terms of his credit. Salih says, “FINCA is the best for agriculture loans. You don't have to wait to prove your credit, which is important in this type of work, when time is very valuable.”

FINCA is the best for agriculture loans. You don't have to wait to

prove your credit, which is important in this type of work,

when time is very valuable.”

“

Building Tomorrow Together

Join our movementFINCA KosovoHead OfficeRr. Robert Doll nr.510,000 PrishtinaTel: +381 (0) 38 609 721Fax: +381 (0) 38 609 [email protected]

Founder of FINCA Mr. John Hatch

in Prizren, Kosovo

booklet finca 2015 - final

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