Taban’s journey: From Village Savings and Loan Association member to honey entrepreneur

Taban Sagamu, a 26-year-old native of Nzara, embarked on a transformative journey towards financial empowerment and entrepreneurship when he joined the Anisa Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) in January 2023. Motivated by his aspirations for self-improvement, Taban eagerly engaged in the VSLA activities and financial management training facilitated by UN Women. Equipped with newfound knowledge and unwavering determination, Taban and his fellow members commenced their savings journey in June 2023. 

Pooling their resources, Taban seized the opportunity to borrow a loan of 40,000 SSP (equivalent to 40 USD at the time) and invested it in his budding honey business. Within a remarkably short time, his investment proved fruitful, yielding profits that not only allowed him to repay the loan with interest but also left a surplus for further growth. 

Reflecting on their collective progress, Taban remarked, "Before establishing our Medium and Small Enterprise (MSE) with four other colleagues, I relied on individual loans from our VSLA. Now, as a unified group, our collaborative efforts have propelled us forward." This unity led to a significant milestone in November 2023 when they secured a loan of 180,000 SSP from their VSLA and purchased four jerrycans of honey. Selling each jerrycan for 100,000 SSP, they reaped profits totaling 400,000 SSP. Undeterred by success, they reinvested their earnings, expanding their inventory to 10 jerrycans within a month. "We sold the honey at a competitive price, generating substantial revenue of up to 1 million SSP," Taban explained. 

Their endeavors brought financial gains and positively impacted Taban's family. "I was able to provide for my family during Christmas, ensuring we had food and clothing," Taban shared. Moreover, he prioritized investing in his children's education, highlighting his commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty. 

Looking towards the future, Taban harbors ambitious plans. "My dream is to establish our brand and supply other states with pure organic honey from Western Equatoria," he expressed with unwavering determination.  

Thanks to generous funding from the African Development Bank, Taban and his four team members received a transformative zero-interest loan of 4 million SSP from UN Women through Stanbic Bank in July 2024. This financial boost has allowed them to scale up their honey business and improve their livelihoods. 

Taban reflects on the challenges they faced before the loan, saying, " We had the skills and the drive, but without enough capital, it was difficult to meet the growing demand for our honey or improve the quality of our products."

Since receiving the loan, Taban and his team have made significant strides. "In the past month, we have made a profit of 800,000 SSP from honey sales," Taban shared enthusiastically. "This funding has enabled us to increase our production capacity and explore new market opportunities." 

They plan to reinvest part of the loan to acquire honey processing and packaging equipment. "This will not only improve the quality of our honey but also create opportunities for higher profitability. We want to make sure our honey stands out in both quality and packaging," Taban explained. 

"We are incredibly grateful for the support from the African Development Bank, UN Women, Change Agency Organisation, and Stanbic Bank. This loan has given us the hope and means to build a better future for ourselves and our families," Taban expressed.