good.bee Client Stories
26.Apr, 2011
On the road in Romania – finding out more about microcredits
Money for many – microcredits in Romania
We heard so much about microcredits that we were more and more obsessed to know what the output is – what do microcredits accomplish in real life?
good.bee has now been offering small loans for quite a while, but how has the money been invested? And above all, who are the customers? For us, those small loans are a bit abstract – what kind of business can you start with such a small amount of money? We can only conclude that evidently life proceeds at a different pace in these regions.
So we packed our camera and went on a road trip to Romania, where we visited the customers of good.bee credit. Join us on our trip to some of the more far flung places of the European Union, where life is traditional – and a little financial opportunity can change a lot.
Colourful market gardening – Vegetables in Matca
An army of greenhouses provide healthy treats.
Marian Rusu Stefan, Florin Phorib and Vasilica Apostu are in a credit group that was founded four years ago. In two to three growing cycles each year they produce all sorts of vegetables: tomatoes, cucumber, salad, radishes, peppers and – outside the greenhouse – melon, corn and other crops. They try to farm in an ecological and biological way with hybrids from the region and the Netherlands. Florin Pohrib: “The loans were really beneficial for us, we invested in greenhouses and sprayers. And from year to year we have made progress. We have succeeded in doubling the production surface in recent years.” With upcoming loans they hope to double this surface again over the next few years. Vasilica Apostu: “This is a very good system. Thank you very much for the help you have given us. We have accomplished a lot with the loans we have taken out!”
Mom-and-Pop grocery store – Local provider in Produlesti
Shop around the corner – all you need in your neighbourhood.
Nicolae Dragne used to work as an electrician. But after the ‘90s the company he worked for was struggling to survive and had to release employees. When he was laid off, he got compensation worth nine months of salary, but he had to find a new way to make his living. He decided to invest the money in two small shops to sell groceries. One day, the credit officers of good.bee visited Pradulesti and got in contact with the local authorities. “I liked their professional way of working. That’s how they managed to get so many customers in Produlesti,” Nicolae compliments good.bee, “and I have been very satisfied in all the time I have worked with them.” He has taken out three loans in total; he was particularly happy with the last loan, as with it, he was able to finish all the construction work necessary for his shop. “And you are visiting me on a very special day! Today I repaid the last instalment on my loan – and I am very happy!”
A small stable on a hill – a flock in Beidaud
Herding dogs and wilderness.
Seven years ago, Vasile Grigoreanu inherited 40 sheep from his grandparents. To expand his flock he has taken out several loans over the last few years and over time has slowly managed to extend his flock to 600 goats and sheep. “Everything I have achieved up until now is the result of hard work and is thanks to good.bee loans,” Vasile states. He is planning to grow his flock to 1,000 animals and to develop the infrastructure of the farm. “Now everything is so much better. Things are clearer, because my loan is in lei. It is more real and it is at a fixed interest rate.”
