GLORIA, age 49, supports a house of 7 with her bar and liquor store, "T. Square Take Away Drinks." Although she has no children of her own, she and her husband take care of 5 relatives' children, three of which have been orphaned. Gloria's husband, who used to work for the local phone company, is now without a job because of a stroke that affected his memory.

Gloria's bar and shop opened around 2½ years ago and now employs 5 workers. This business brings Gloria an average profit of around $20 a day, from its 10-20 customers on the weekdays and 50 on the weekends.

Gloria has taken out two previous loans from Tujijenge Tanzania to buy a deep freezer and initial stock for her liquor store. Having paid these back successfully, she now hopes for a third loan to increase her inventory and buy chairs for her bar.

Gloria belongs to the group Makete (named after their district in Dar es Salaam), which consists of 15 other members who keep each other accountable and insure one another in paying back their loans.  

Gloria MbGela's Kiva Journal