VHI Star: Felix Mbaya

Felix is an award-winning tea farmer and a strong advocate for the power of microloans. Before receiving his loan from VHI, Felix owned three thousand tea bushes. With the loan, he purchased 5,000 additional tea bushes as well as fertilizers and manure and has enough to regularly pay casual laborers to pick tea leaves. He has increased tea production on his farm exponentially and has become the most successful farmer in his zone, receiving medals from the tea factory for being the best farmer in the area. With his additional profits and income, Felix built a cement house for his family and sent his two young children to boarding primary schools.

Felix is an inspiration to the small-scale farmers around him and has motivated other members of his group to work harder to make the most of their loans. He is spreading the word about the value of small loans and is encouraging his family and friends to seek out loans from VHI to build their homes and secure the future well-being of their families.