[This is part of a series of posts that will extend through the entire year of 2009 twice monthly according to my original post "My pledge to Kiva for 2009". To view all of my Kiva projects, take a moment to check out my Kiva lending page.]

In this week’s Kiva Pledge Update I am supporting the Mema Group in Tanzania, which operates a clothing store in Dar es Salaam. The store is run by Mkema Josephat and the 16 members which make up Mema Group.

According to their Kiva business page:

Mkema Josephat, age 47, is married with three children ages 17, 12 and 2. He sells new clothes. He started this business in 2000 and works daily from 8am until 8pm. He is able to earn a monthly profit of around $40. This will be Mkema’s sixth loan from Tujijenge Tanzania. He used the previous loans to increase his stock of clothes and has repaid the loans successfully. He hopes this loan will increase the size of his business again. Mkema will share this loan with his loan group, Mema, which totals 16 members. The members of the group will hold each other accountable to pay back their loans.

Stay tuned for the next Kiva Pledge Update on March 15th.