Ansumana Sabally is a 22-year-old in Brikama, The Gambia. He had to drop out of school when his father died and he is supporting his grandmother and siblings. He has been gathering firewood in the forest to sell, but it is no longer legal to do so.

After careful consideration and many discussions, he would like to open a small store in his town to sell food to his neighborhood. This will be a big help to the town, as it will make food more accessible for people. Right now there is only one market in town, so there is a serious need for this store. The shop will be like many “tiendas” in other countries - or like “convenience stores” in North America and Europe.

He will be selling basics like flour, vegetables, sugar, oil and rice. He has carefully researched the wholesale sources and found a shop he can rent for a reasonable rate. He has completed a business plan and is ready to work hard to feed his family and help his neighbors.

His challenge is to raise the intital capital to start the business. His options are very limited as KIVA doesn’t operate in The Gambia and a bank loan is not possible. Raising the capital is the challenge and you can help.

Ansumana is committed to this project and his dream is to help his family and neighbors with an accessible market. The money he makes will help educate his siblings and build a more secure future for his family.

About Brikama: Gender disparities and inequalities in access to education and employment are among the fundamental causes of poverty in Brikama. There is only one major market in Brikama. The market needs to be upgraded and expanded to accommodate more traders.