I: Client's Information :

• Date of Birth: May 10, 1946

• Gender: Female

• Social Status:Widow                             

• Children: 2  

• Activity: Manufacturing and trading    leather hand bags

• Employees: 4 (including her two sons)

• Governorate: Alexandria – Egypt

II: Loan's Information :

• Date of first loan: July 17, 1990

• First Loan Amount: EGP 1000 (US$ 175)

• Date of last Loan: February 20, 2007

• Last loan Amount: EGP 15.000 (US$2632)

• Total Loans Number: 13

• Total Loans Amount: EGP 114.000(US$ 20.000)

III: Blueprint of Success & Meeting Challenges :

At the beginning of her practical life, Aisha was working in manufacturing women soiree dresses.

In 1994, her husband died, leaving a heavy debts loaded store to taxes, insurance, bags' suppliers and others. Many people advised her to sell the store in order to pay all the debts.

She consulted officials in ABA, SMEP, who advised her not to do, but rather to try to amend the husband's faults. It was a time in which a hard decision should be taken.

Aisha took it, for the sake of her two son's future; she did not sell the store. And in a very measured step she began manufacturing hand bags as a complementary activity, or rather primary one, to the trade. She hired a clever manufacturer, and intelligently used the ABA's loans to buy the necessary raw materials. With this brave step she emancipated her self from any more new liabilities for the hand bags' suppliers. It followed a very measured study of the market to explore people's preferences.

Step by step she learnt the techniques of hand bags manufacturing. She surpasses also in making the hand-made bags that foreigners like to buy.

Aisha, now, does not only provide her store with all the necessary goods, but she professionally has already played the role of hand bags supplier to the famous stores in Alexandria.          

In February 2007 Aisha won the Citibank Group and Sanabel's Prize for micro enterprises – Egypt 2006, in the Sector of "the 2006 Pioneer Women "- only one winner across Egypt. 

IV: Keys of Success :

Patience, persistence, studying the market before any new activity, measured use of the loans, and continuous developing of marketing plans.  

V: Social & Educational status :

Success in work reflects on her life stability. She secured her small family with all living's requirements. Her two sons graduated from university; Ahmed (26 years old) graduated from the Faculty of Law, Karim (23 years old) graduated from the Faculty of Arts. Both of them are working with their mother. They are interested in developing their skills by joining Computer and English learning centers.

 VI: Future Plans :

Aisha is now developing a plan to increase the production and hiring more manufacturers. She plans to buy a new store.