Journal: Jackie

God Cares Retail Store is open for business in a new location since Jackie first started it last summer. Originally, she opened her shop to sell small things like beans, sugar, soap and other small items in the Banda neighborhood near where she lives in her aunt’s house (along with so many other siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces she can’t count—probably between 20 and 30 people). However, she found that people in that neighborhood who lived in walled-off houses didn’t shop at the neighborhood stores, but instead went to supermarkets. Things were going very slowly and she had few customers. Things bought remained in stock for a long time, and it was very frustrating.

Two weeks ago, Jackie moved the store to the Acholi Quarters where many of the people find it much easier to go to a local store than to try to travel all the way to the supermarket. Now she is beginning to see some real profits.

The store is open seven days a week from 8 in the morning until 9 at night. Jackie works the store by herself except when she is sick or especially busy when her cousin Susan Apiyo fills in for her. [The picture shows Susan on the left and Jackie on the right.]

With the money from the store, Jackie supports her seven brothers and sisters, paying their school fees. She herself would like to go back to school to finish her secondary studies, which is her primary hope for the future.

Jackie thanks all of the lenders for the loan that has made her store possible and profitable!