CLIENTS
Our impact is defined by the success of our clients.
Cycle Connect serves the number one population in the world, smallholder farmers.
WHO ARE SMALLHOLDER FARMERS?
Smallholder farmers, Cycle Connect’s customers, represent the number one population in the world. The majority of them are subsistence farmers living under the poverty line, with 85% living on less than $2 per day and the remaining at less than $4 per day. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development, economic growth from agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa is eleven times more effective at reducing poverty than any other sector (IFAD). We envision a world where no farmer has to live in poverty. That is why we are committed to investing in transformational change on the farm.
WHERE DO OUR CLIENTS LIVE?
The smallholder farmers we serve are living in deep rural areas. Both because of distance and their status as a smallholder farmer they are financially excluded and not able to adequately invest in growth. This is why we exist--distance shouldn’t be a barrier to access and opportunity. By providing the opportunity to invest, we are equipping smallholder farmers with the necessary tools to grow their business and move their family out of poverty. Our customers already have big dreams for their future; Cycle Connect provides means to make those dreams become reality.
Breaking the Cycle of Extreme Poverty
We are committed to journey with customers who grow alongside our company. Customers we can invest in – year over year – and work with to accelerate income growth for their families.
Through our expanded productive asset offering, we are able to continuously work with smallholder farmers as they invest in tools that will propel them forward. This breadth allows Cycle Connect to become more sustainable and to generate the highest level of impact.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Okidi Roberts
"Cycle Connect has opened my eyes."
Okidi Roberts is a smallholder farmer in Omuru district in northern Uganda. Okidi has been a customer of Cycle Connect since 2014. He started with a bicycle loan and moved on to invest in other transformational products from Cycle Connect; including another bicycle, solar light, and an oxen & plow loan. By being able to invest in the necessary tools from Cycle Connect, Okidi is on his way to the dreams he has for his family, his land, and his community.
Watch: The Journey of Okidi Roberts →
Okidi invests in a Bicycle
Okidi's journey with Cycle Connect began in 2014 when one of our team members visitied his VSLA group to share about our lease to own bicycles. Okidi applied and was approved for a bicycle loan.
Not One But Two Bicycles
Okidi's bicycle allowed him to sell his crops at markets farther away at a higher price and to go there more often. The bicycle also helped his children reach their school which was very far. The bicycle was such a good investment that Okidi decided to invest in a 2nd bicycle.
Lighting The Way Forward
Okidi saw how transfomational his two bicyles were for his family. He made the decision with his wife to invest in a solar light from Cycle Connect to bring power into their home and light their way forward.
Oxen and Plow
Okidi's most recent investment includes an ox and plow loan. Okidi can till twice the amount of land in half the amount of time with his oxen. Not only does he save on rental fees, but he is also then able to rent out his fleet with a profit of $550 per year for rental only.
Lamarao Kevin
"Cycle Connect has chased poverty away from my house."
Lamarao Kevin has been a participant of Cycle Connect since 2014. When Lamaro first took a bicycle loan, she found that one bicycle wasn't enough to meet the needs of her family and business. So she paid the bicycle off quickly and went on to invest in a second bicycle. She went on to invest in other productive assets from Cycle Connect, including a solar light loan and an ox & plow loan. She says she is looking forward to next applying for a motorcycle loan from Cycle Connect to help her continue to go the distance to achieve the dreams she has for her family.
Lamaro invests in her 1st Bicycle
Lamaro's journey with Cycle Connect began when she first invested in a bicycle loan.
A 2nd Bicycle
Lamaro's bicycle allowed her to carry more crops to the market, made it easier to transport water, access better healthcare, and helped her children reach their school. But one bicycle wasn't enough to meet the growing needs of her family so she quickly paid off the bicycle and invested in a second bicycle.
Oxen and Plow
When Lamaro learned that Cycle Connect was offering products beyond bicycles, she was interested in a product that would help her grow her farming business. She invested in an oxen & plow loan and used the ox to till twice the amount of land to harvest twice the amount of crops.
Going The Distance
Lamaro is using the assets she received from Cycle Connect to achieve the dreams she has set before her. Her increased income is helping her grow her business, keep her kids in school, and save for the future. She is interested in next taking a motorcycle loan to go farther and faster than ever before.
Ojok James
"I have seen my income greatly increase."
Ojok James is a retired soldier whose journey with Cycle Connect began in 2015 when he received his first bicycle loan. After paying off his bicycle, Ojok went on to further invest in a grinding mill from Cycle Connect. This machine allowed Ojok to open a grinding mill business. The grinding machine not only creates access for Ojok's family but it is creating access for his entire community because they now have an ag-processing business in their village.
Ojok Invests in a Bicycle
The first asset that Ojok invested in from Cycle Connect was a bicycle loan. Ojok and his family used the bicycle to save on transportation costs and to carry more crops to the market.
Further Investment
Ojok learned about Cycle Connect's other productive assets and was immediately interested in a grinding machine. He applied and was approved for a grinding machine loan.
Ojok Starts A Business
Ojok used the grinding machine to launch a small grinding mill business in his community where fellow farmers can come pay to use the machine. The business was able to equip Ojok to easily repay his loan.
Accelerating Forward
The loan not only created access for Ojok and his family but for his entire community who can now access the machine. Ojok's loans are helping him greatly increase his income and accelerate forward towards the dreams he has for his family and his community.
Oyet Jimmy
"I like Cycle Connect because they are very fast. It took me just one week to be approved for my loan."
Oyet Jimmy's journey with Cycle Connect started with a bicycle. Jimmy's bicycle provided him with market access where he could sell his crops for a higher price. When Jimmy learned that he could invest in other products, beyond bicycles, he was very excited. Jimmy quickly paid off his bicycle and even helped other members of his savings group pay off their bicycles. Jimmy went on to invest in a motorcycle loan. With his motorcycle, Jimmy is going the distance and closing the gap between him and his dreams!
Oyet's Bicycle
Oyet Jimmy was very interested in a bicycle loan when a Cycle Connect loan officer visited his village savings group. He immediately applied and was approved.
Completion of Loan
Oyet worked hard to use his bicycle to quickly pay off his loan. He even helped other members of his group to pay off their bicycle loans.
Two More Wheels
After learning about Cycle Connect's other assets, Oyet applied for a motorcycle loan and was quickly approved. He used his motorcycle to start a taxi business which immediately delivered returns on his investment.
Going the Distance
Oyet's bicycle and motorcycle are helping him go farther and faster than ever before towards the dreams he has for his future.