Watu empowers entrepreneurs like Amos, providing loans and tools that open doors to growth and success.
When Amos Lulu talks about his work, he speaks with pride, given how far he has come. He still recalls the days when finding opportunities was a daily uncertainty, and how a single opportunity shifted everything. Today, he rides through the busy Kisumu streets as a boda boda operator with big dreams for his business. His story is a clear demonstration of what happens when resilience meets the right support.
Like thousands of entrepreneurs, Amos started trying to find his way into business with almost nothing. He was nearly stranded in his dreams when an opportunity came through a connection to Watu, a company that offers loans to entrepreneurs with a mission to enhance financial inclusion.
He acquired his first motor bike through Watu, a step that marked not only the beginning of his entrepreneurship journey, but also a renewed hope for his future. He now had a tool of trade, an income stream, and a sense of independence which comes with a healthy dose of dignity.
Each ride he takes meant food on the table, school fees for his siblings, and an improvement in his life as an individual. Through discipline, he was able to repay his loan to Watu but even then, being free of dept did not mean sitting and relaxing for him. He went back and got onto the Watu Simu program which is designed to make smartphones affordable through flexible repayment plans.
This move could not have been more timely for Amos who had always dreamed of running a delivery service, but was hindered by the lack of a reliable smartphone to receive orders, track deliveries and communicate with his customers. High performance phones were out of reach for him and Watu came and changed that. He gone one and just like that, he had an office in his palms, with which to run his entire delivery business. And just like that, he was able to join a wider digital economy, as opposed to being limited to street pick ups.
With a good smartphone, he was able to connect to apps and a wider range of customers, an opportuity that would otherwise have remained closed. He is able to coordinate clients, manage payments, and navigate routes with accuracy.
For Amos and many others, Watu is a lifeline that offers both a start and a future. He plans to empower more youth by expanding his delivery work and creating employment, even as he acts as a mentor and role model.
This is just the beginning for the young man who is determined to grow, pay it forward and expand the impact of his business. His is a story that powerfully demonstrates how affordable credit solutions can open doors for thousands of young people who are hard working enough, but only need a fair chance to prove themselve.
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