Empowering women business owners in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Canada’s support for the financial inclusion project of the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) helped women business owners in the Democratic Republic of Congo get the leg up they need.

Charlotte Assumani has been a FINCA client of the Gombe branch in Kinshasa for over 15 years. The widow and mother first joined FINCA as a village banking client. This allowed her to get a loan as a member of a group of women who support each other and guarantee each other’s loan payments.

Charlotte’s first $400 village banking loan helped her start her own restaurant. Now, she is an individual loan client and has increased her loan amount to more than $15,000. This has allowed Charlotte to successfully grow her business, create wealth, send her children to school and employ other people.

Today, she has 8 people working for her. They, in turn, are able to support their own families because of the jobs she provides them. Charlotte’s restaurant now serves nearly 150 people each day and brings in more than $300 in daily sales.