The thought and the chance that helped Mirjana thrive

By MI-BOSPO

Earlier than the Bosnian warfare, Mirjana Parhomov  was a security engineer dwelling quietly within the city of Bijeljina, Bosnia. In the course of the warfare’s aftermath nevertheless, she was certainly one of many who have been left and not using a job, an revenue and a house.

“It”s exhausting if you end up left and not using a house and a job,” Mirjana mentioned. “It appears to me that my job loss was tougher on me than shedding the home. Previous folks say, a hardworking man can begin from scratch and make one thing of it thrice in a single lifetime. However, I say, a hardworking lady can begin from scratch and make one thing of it 5 instances in a single lifetime!”

In 2003, Mirjana took her first mortgage from MI-BOSPO to begin a enterprise. Her concept was to re-start her father”s former enterprise—a water mill—and use it to supply flour. The revenue she acquired from the enterprise helped her household survive a tough interval.

“They inform me that it is a man”s job. It’s tough, however it’s not a person”s job,” Mirjana informed her mortgage officer. “I used to be penniless however with the thought. I needed to run the mill!”

After repaying the primary mortgage and seeing how her enterprise has strengthened, Mirjana knew she needed to make it even higher. She realized that she wanted to take a position much more in her enterprise if she needed to develop her providing. She needed to introduce new merchandise comparable to buckwheat, barley and rye. Mirjana is at present within the eighth mortgage cycle with MI-BOSPO. She is utilizing 1500 BAM (US$976), which was invested in corn planting, from which she’s going to produce wholesome corn flour and different corn flour merchandise. “As a spouse and a mom, I believed, wholesome meals is the longer term.”

When she will not be working on the mill, Mirjana goes round to close by eating places and gives her merchandise. At present, Mirjana produces many merchandise from various kinds of flour, satisfying the assorted wants of her prospects.

“I got here to MI – BOSPO for a mortgage. It was a small quantity to begin with. And, so I began. Little by little, I now have elaborated job and all people is aware of about my mill and me. I’ve common prospects. I managed to succeed in the enterprise quantity and income in order that I can rent an worker. That’s my success. I’m glad that I used to be capable of rent another person. I’m nonetheless a shopper of MI-BOSPO. I wish to work with them. I began with them. They’re my assist.”

Her story describes the influence of empowering low-income ladies with monetary entry: with simply an concept borne of a necessity mixed with exhausting work and the chance of a mortgage, a worthwhile enterprise is created, producing employment for the group is nicely. MI-BOSPO is happy with its shoppers like Mirjana and their success.