USAID/Sierra Leone: Foday Tucker Provides for his Family with a Micro-Loan from USAID

JANUARY 24, 2005

Foday Tucker Provides for his Family with a Micro-Loan from USAID

Tucker, who makes his living grinding nuts and leaves for customers in the market, has been able to help his wife with her business, ensure his children's schooling, and start construction on a house with financial boost from a micro-loan provided by USAID.

Foday Tucker and his family had to flee the Tongo Fields area during the war, living in camps for displaced persons in Kenema for years. Upon his return to his community, he had no idea how to start to begin to make money again.

A USAID-sponsored microfinance project carried out by non-governmental organization World Vision gave him new hope in the form of a microloan. With 100,000 Leones ($36.00 USD), Tucker bought a knife sharpener, and later a grinder to grind nuts and leaves, and has since set himself up successfully for business in the central market. He says now earns 6,000 to 10,000 Leones per day, with which he says he was soon able to pay off his loan. After saving an additional 100,000 Leones, he gave them to his wife to set herself up in the market selling palm oil.

Foday Tucker with his son on the Tongo Fields central market.

Foday Tucker with his son in the Tongo Fields market.

"Our four children are now in school -- they didn't go to school when we were in the camps, but now I am able to pay for their school fees," says Tucker. From their savings, Tucker and his wife have planted rice on four acres of land that belong to tucker's father-in-law. Tucker and his wife are also in the process if building a new house with the profits from his wife's business.

"People here really need microloans," says Tucker, who would like to see more local residents benefit. "One of the things we want to do here is to buy books for our schools." Tucker, along with the members of a local community association, are also also looking after two orphan chldren. Tucker is preoccupied with the children's future, saying that the good fortunes are tied to those of the members of the community who look after them.

One step at a time, through local residents like Tucker who are putting family and community concerns first, Tongo Fields is slowly rebuilding, with a helping hand from the American people through USAID. Says Tucker, "We are so glad to have benefited from this project."

Story and photo by Laura Lartigue