In the heart of Mkuza, Kibaha district in Coast region, Amina Bayo, a resilient 64-year-old entrepreneur, faced a pressing challenge – a lack of reliable water supply. Juggling her chicken breeding venture and a retail shop, Amina struggled to meet the lump sum costs for accessing piped water. The situation forced her family to rely on unpredictable water sources, impacting their daily lives.

Amina, married to an agriculturalist Jimson Kilimali, has four children, all now living in different cities of the country. Their household, consisting of four people, including two grandchildren, earns an average monthly income of TZS 500,000 (USD 198.81). Despite their entrepreneurial spirit (rearing chickens and running a tuck shop), the family found themselves without a consistent water source forcing them to purchase a 20L bucket of water at TZS 500 (USD0.20).

In October 2023, Amina’s fortune took a turn when she discovered the MMCL Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) Loans. Armed with a determined spirit, she applied for a TZS 500,000 (USD 198.81) loan to fund the water connection to be repaid monthly for six months. Swiftly approved and disbursed in November 2023, the loan transformed Amina’s household. Now, with a steady water supply, her property value has soared, attracting tenants who contribute TZS 10,000 (USD 3.98) monthly to the overall bill, ensuring a brighter future. Amina joyfully repays the loan with monthly installments of TZS 94,000 (USD 37.38), proving that a reliable water source is not just a necessity, but a catalyst for prosperity.

In the picture, Amina’s radiant smile is captured next to the water tap inside and outside her house after the MMCL loan.