Tweet

Chaibia Sabil's Story

Written by: Grameen Foundation

Article Overview: Chaibia is a client of Foundation Zakoura, a Grameen Foundation Growth Guarantee recipient.

Chaibia Sabil's Story

Before moving to Oujda, Morocco I learned my mother’s business of trading merchandise. To increase my business’ profit I began buying contraband merchandise, which was extremely risky. Several times I lost all of my merchandise at custom checks, which left me vulnerable to risk. I had many financial problems since the salary of my husband was not sufficient to cover the costs of raising our three children.

One day I heard about Foundation Zakoura through women in my neighborhood. The staff was very welcoming and after telling them about my business we agreed on a loan of 1000Dh (US$125) to begin a small project to buy and resell wholesale clothing.

Not long after, I was approved for a second loan of 5000 Dh, which went entirely towards my business. The profits that I made helped solve my personal and family problems. I was even able to help my oldest son, Abderahman, with his marriage and now he is following the family business of reselling clothing. Foundation Zakoura recently began lending to men, and my son has just been approved to take out a loan to buy more merchandise.

Since receiving my first loan from Foundation Zakoura, I have become one of the most active women at my branch. I take advantage of other activities that they offer like theater and environmental awareness training. I also read Zakoura’s weekly newspaper which is written in clear and simple language for women like me with only a primary education.

Related Articles
  Watch Me Tell One of the Best Stories in Never Eat Alone
  Selling Your Story Idea
  The Awesome Power of Story
  Story Ideas that will interest the media
  Telling an Authentic Story About Your Brand

Article Tags: awareness training, business profit, custom checks, dh, family business, marriage, neighborhood, oujda morocco, primary education, profits, salary, several times, wholesale, wholesale clothing



Related Forum Posts
Favorite Christmas Movie - Hands down- for me it's the original (black & white) version of "Miricle on 34th Street" and I have seen the colorized version, but still prefer to watch the B & W version. Coming in second is "A Christmas Story" which is set in the 1940's where the little boy wants nothing more than a BB gun for Christmas. And last, I would say it's a wonderful Life (with Jimmy Stewart).
Business lesssons from movies and TV - There's a new book out on doing business the Sopranos way... that's a TV show I never watched and I'm not interested in the book But sounds like a fun idea... Movies and TV do teach us things, even if only subliminally ... Toy Story is a good example of leadership styles between the "old way" Woody the wooden puppet and the "new way" Buzz the charismatic space ranger...(and one of my favorite movies...) Mission Impossible the tv series (not the abominable movies) would be great for plannng intricate operations and being prepared for anything...
Book: The System - [quote:3e8ncw28]What was the name of that book -- the high finance murder mystery?[/quote:3e8ncw28] Sorry for the delay in answering this question. The book is: The System: A Story of Intrigue and Market Domination Terry Waghorn Perseus Piblishing 2002 Jacket description: In a world where competitive advantage is temporary at best - and illusory at worst - there is nothing more important to the business enterprise than creating a robust strategy and executing it with Steve. In The System, Terry WAghorn illustrates this universal theme through an action-packed adventure.
Re: What I'm reading this weekend - Mar 4, 2011 - Hi Evan, Thanks for the latest list. I don't plan to do too much online "reading" this weekend as I'm hoping to keep up the momentum of developing and promoting my upcoming online business podcast service... However, when not online, I always find time to read books. I'm pleased to report that my "three-books-at-a-time" pattern has organically reestablished itself. I have nearly finished reading all three: 1. Breakfast reading: The Story of Philosophy, by Bryan Magee. (One of those Dorling Kindersley illustrated books, so not too heavy going!!) 2. Tram/train/out & about reading: Renaissance Self Fashioning, by Stephen Greenblatt. 3. Bedtime reading: Saint Joan of Arc, by Vita Sackville West.
Learning from other people's mistakes (Books) - Most business books are written by people who tell of success stories, and how they were achieved. I'm wondering if people learn more by reading about the stories of failure? Or about how people achieved success...and then frittered it away through bad business practice. I checked two books out of the library yesterday. Apple: The Inside Story of Intrigue, Egomania, and Business Blunders, by Jim Carlton (started as a startup in 1976, sales peaked in 1995, and even then they were a "troubled" company, and now they've only got a 3% market share. (And I must admit I used to love Macs, but don't anymore...) and Breaking Windows: How Bill Gates Fumbled the Future of Microsoft, by David Bank. "Breaking Windows" tells the story of the battle for the soul of Microsoft that raged inside the company from 1997 to 2000 and continues to reverbrate today." The book "breaks new ground in its analysis of Microsoft's past and future business strategies. As Microsoft faces the waning importance of Windows, rallies behind XML, and confronts the open-source insurgency, the past Bank reveals is vital to understanding the future of this company and the still unfinished digital revolution it helped unleash.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

E Mail Marketing Campaigns

10 Reasons Your SBA Loan May Be Declined

How To Improve Your CTA (Call To Action)

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.