Benny runs a small construction business which employs eight people in Lusaka, Zambia.
Benny was unable to get a loan from his bank, even though he had been a customer for 10 years. He now has access to mobile financial services through our platform which enables him to purchase supplies for his construction projects and finance his education.
“I joined my uncles in construction when I was around 11 years old, helping them mix cement,” says Benny. He made a name for himself this way and as the years went on, he started receiving calls from people who needed his assistance. Now, at 32 years old, Benny runs a small construction business and has completed more than 50 projects.
Having access to credit has come in handy for him on a number of occasions – from purchasing supplies for construction projects to helping him take care of a medical emergency in the home.
“If it wasn’t for access to credit, I think my business would’ve been on hold,” says Benny.
He enjoys being his own boss because it gives him the freedom to work on his own terms and the motivation to upskill himself in as many ways as he can. He spends a lot of time online reading about construction and IT. He’s completed a number of courses online including a short course in Project Planning and Management at the University of Zambia. Whether it’s learning how to work with certain tiles, building on his money management skills, researching gadgets, or simply discovering that grey overalls are better for working with cement, Benny believes in improving himself every day in a bid to get closer to his goals.
