Koudedia Bah

Koudedia Bah is not only a woman, she's a businesswoman. "I have always worked for myself," says Koudedia. "It's very important for me to live and provide for my seven children with money I have earned honestly."  Koudedia ran her own business in her native Mali, and when she moved to New York in 1995 with her husband, it was important for her to remain independent.

She began her homebased sales business after realizing that the African community, especially women, could not find the products they were used to in Africa.  She began importing jewelry and traditional African "pagne," a type of clothing, reselling her goods to contacts in New York. Koudedia's business had been successful but small-her sales earnings were not enough to allow her to invest in more inventory. "To buy and sell more products, I needed more money first," says Koudedia.

Unfamiliar with managing her finances in the United States, she was hesitant to approach a bank. Luckily, a friend referred her to ACCION, and she received her first $700 loan. The loan helped Koudedia build her business and her credit-allowing Koudedia to qualify for additional loans for $2,000 and $4,000.  She's complemented her loan with free training from OnTRAC, which has helped her to formalize her business and become more familiar with doing business in the United States.  "I was taught how to better manage my business, and I learned new business methods," Koudedia reports. Koudedia envisions a bigger business in her future, and hopes to employ other African people in her community.

Back to success stories