Shanthi, a customer of Ujjivan, is a native of Madras, Tamil Nadu, and is among the millions of people who migrate to Bangalore and settle down in the city’s slums in search of a job. With just five years of schooling, Shanthi found work at a local sari shop where her main job was making sari blouses. went on, she recognized that by opening up her own sari shop out of her home she could save on transportation costs, earn a larger income and devote more time to her family. Along with a group of women, Shanthi joined one of our Investee Companies and took her first Business Loan of Rs. 8,000
to open her shop. Becoming an entrepreneur has not only increased Shanthi’s income (she now makes Rs. 50 or more on each sari she sells), but it has also increased her labour skills. From making sari blouses at her previous job, she now makes the entire sari, adding intricate embroidery to original designs, which significantly increases its value. Empowered with a better income and a less stressful life, Shanthi is able to spend time thinking about what is next for her business and for her family. Her new goal is to be able to open up a savings account and put money aside for her children’s education, envisioning that one day they can become doctors or engineers. Shanti's loan has not only empowered her financially, but has helped fuel her and her family's dreams.

Twenty-four year old Sachin, a member of the Scheduled Caste* of Sahaspur, is often found with a measuring tape around his neck and a pencil behind his right ear. After quitting school at the age of twelve, Sachin began an apprenticeship in a tailor shop. Now, Sachin owns his tailor shop in Sahaspur. He started his business thanks to the first Rs. 5,000 loan that Mimo granted him one year ago. He presently employs four people and gives them the same training he was given at the beginning of his career. With his second loan, Sachin bought two more sewing machines that allowed him to hire two more employees. He increased his monthly income by 50%, and increased his savings from Rs. 4000 to 6000 per month. To provide for his growing family, which includes his wife and his six-month old son, Sachin plans to take another loan from Mimo to further improve his business. When asked about how his loan has impacted him, Sachin answered: “My loan has increased not just my living standards but that of the entire community.” *Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are Indian communities that are explicitly recognized by the Constitution of India as requiring special support to overcome centuries of discrimination by mainstream Hindu society. SCs/STs together comprise over 24% of India's population, with SC at over 16% and ST over 8% as per the 2001 Census. The proportion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the population of India has steadily risen since independence in 1947

Mehraaj, a client of Sahayata, is one of the many women across India to have been dealt an unforeseeable hand that would change her life forever. Until just a few months earlier, Mehraaj's family of 7 were supported by her husband - a, then, taxi driver who unfortunately met with a tragic road accident where both his legs were severely injured. Left handicapped, her husband and the rest of their family had to seek alternate means for daily survival. In the interim until a more sustainable solution could be found, Mehraaj set out on an uphill climb to find some financial help, but her efforts were unsuccessful. In time, and with only a fifth grade education, Mehraaj was able to find a job washing utensils in others' homes for meager pay. When Sahayata started operations in her area , Mehraaj said it was a blessing in disguise for her, giving her the opportunity to create an entrepreneurial venture that would enable her to support her family in a more financially sustainable way. Mehraaj used her initial loan for Rs 10,000 to open a local convenience store where she is able to sell various household items. She admits that as this was her first attempt at her own business, it was initially difficult for her, but found that her business soon turned into a sustainable success. The profits from Mehraaj's first business venture have enabled her husband to get regular medical checkups and her children to go to private schools. She has even been able to purchase a color television for her family 's entertainment. Mehraaj says the loan she received has changed her life in unimaginable ways and she is is eagerly awaiting her 2nd cycle loan to take her business to the next level.		Potharaju Lakshmi is Trident Microfin's first customer and a first-time microfinance loan borrower - having received her first loan of Rs. 10,000 in June 2007 for her saree business, which she has been in for the last five years. Lakshmi buys sarees from a wholesaler in Manerial and goes around the surrounding slums and villages and sells to local residents. Her loan from Trident has provided her with working capital that even enables her to manage her expenses when there is a delay in customer payments. Lakshmi says her business has grown substantially with her loan and she earns an average profit of Rs. 2,000 to 3,000 per month after deducting all her expenses. Lakshmi has two childen who have been able to attend private colleges thanks to her business's profitability. Though faced with additional opportunities to borrow from more MFIs in her area, Lakshmi says she is not willing to do so; finding herself extremely comfortable with Trident and its operations. So much so, that Lakshmi has now taken her third loan from Trident in order to continue giving herself and her family opportunities that were once out of reach.

Since he was born, Teli’s parents knew that their little boy was special. Indeed, 25-year-old Teli proved to be no regular boy. He managed to finish his tenth year at school and to start a little business by himself in Sahaspur, India. These feats may not seem extraordinary to most but they are in Teli’s case, considering that Teli is affected by Poliomyelitis and can hardly move. Crouched on his knee and holding a chair for balance, Teli shows us the little sweetshop he started to run four years ago. Mimo entrusted Teli with two loans. With his second loan Teli bought a refrigerator for keeping the sweets his mother, father and brother help him to make. The loans helped Teli increase his income from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 3500 per month. Teli holds many plans for the future. Having paid back over half of the loan amount, Teli wants to improve his little shop by getting a third loan. He is extremely proud of what he has been able to accomplish as a result of the endless possibilities his loan has created and thanks those who have contributed to his success for trusting him and allowing him to carve out his respectful place in society.