Pictured here are the 19 Kantolomba residents who hope to receive a loan to put a roof on their homes. Houses in Kantolomba are made from unfired mud brick. This means that in the rainy season, if there is not a proper roof, a house is in great danger of melting back in to the earth. Dozens of houses collapse every year in Kantolomba. Almost no one has a proper roof. The capital required to purchase the supplies—wood for beams, roofing sheets, and nails—is more than anyone in Kantolomba has at one time.

Christina Chisenga, 48, 5 children

Ethel Mutale, 38, 2 children

Eugenia Malama, 48, 5 children

Foster Brasho, 57, 5 children

We agreed to take on the challenge of helping these first 19 people secure their homes. They are perfect candidates to launch the program because they all work for Living Compassion and have a steady source of income that will allow them to pay back the loan.

Georgina Mubanga, 39, 5 children		Josephine Kafwaya, 25, 2 children		Mabel Mfula, 34, 3 children		Malita Mwanza, 40, 6 children
Nelly Nkole, 31, 1 child		Pauline Matende, 38, 4 children		Sopiya Mwansa, 39, 6 children		Regina Kuyela, 36, 9 children

The cost of one roof is $730. (You may have read in the blog the first estimate was $640, which turns out not to have included all the supplies, and was before the US dollar dropped yet again.) The women got together and agreed that they could manage to pay back 50,000 kwacha each month ($15). So, here is how it will work:

If you loan $730 you will receive a yearly check from Living Compassion for $180.

If you indicate that you want to donate your loan money, instead of repaying you we will put the money directly back into the projects to be used on the next loan or another area where the money is currently needed.

Veronica Lungu, 39, 5 children		Violet Mwansa, 54, 3 children		Anna Ndovi, 65, 1 child		Brenda Chisanga, 31, 4 children
Angela Phiri, 60, 11 children		Beauty Musonda, 39, 7 children		Charles Chisanga, 38, 3 children

There are two options for people who would like to participate but cannot give the whole amount:

1. You can loan half, $365, and we will send you yearly checks for $90.
2. You can contribute any amount, and we will pool the funds with other contributions to provide full loans. With this option, due to the complexities of bookkeeping, we will not be able to pay you back and your contribution will be considered a tax-deductible donation. As our micro-credit program grows, we will look into more sophisticated tracking systems to allow loans of all sizes. This is just our maiden voyage!

It is very exciting. We will commit to sending along the news as the roofs are installed and lives are changed!

To make part or all of a loan ($730 or $365): you can pay online with our Roof Loan Payment page or send a check to:

Living Compassion
P.O. Box 1756
Murphys, CA 95247

Please note on your online or check loan that it is for the "Roof Loan Program".