Meet Dan Mlenga, a small business owner from GVH Mwenechipwela in TA Mwenemisuku, Chitipa District, whose determination and access to business support have helped him grow his small enterprise into a grocery shop.
Like many small-scale entrepreneurs, Dan faced challenges in expanding his business due to limited access to capital. He started by selling tomatoes and cooking oil from a bench outside his home, with only a few products available to customers. Although the business provided some income for his family, Dan needed additional capital to increase his stock and grow the enterprise.
Through the IOVCY Project, implemented by Lusubilo Community Care with financial support from the Coppell Family and technical assistance from Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Dan received business capital to expand his enterprise.
With the support, Dan opened a grocery shop and increased the range of products available to his customers. He also purchased a refrigerator, which enabled him to start selling cold drinks and provide more products to his customers.
In addition to financial support, Dan participated in business training covering key areas such as business idea generation, market research, costing and pricing, profit and loss, profit utilisation, and record keeping.
Before the training, Dan did not regularly keep records of his business income and expenses, making it difficult for him to clearly track his profits. The training helped him understand the importance of proper record keeping and managing his business finances. He now keeps business records, monitors his income and expenses, and uses this information to make better decisions about his business.
Dan has also started saving part of his business profits through his SILC group. At the same time, he uses some of the income from the business to support his family and meet the needs of his four children.
Today, Dan’s business looks very different from when he started selling tomatoes and cooking oil from a bench outside his home. His grocery shop now offers a wider range of products, including cold drinks, giving him an opportunity to serve more customers and generate income for his family.
Dan’s experience shows how access to capital, combined with practical business knowledge and continued saving, can support small-scale entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and strengthen their livelihoods.