Meet Gertrude, an Enterprising HealthKeeper
 Nine years ago, Gertrude's husband left Ghana to work, leaving her to raise a newborn and two young children on her own. With the initiative of a mother looking out for her family, Gertrude started a business buying household goods such as drinking glasses and saucepans at the town market to re-sell to her village neighbors.
Freedom from Hunger's Credit with Education program made it possible for her to access small loans that she needed to expand her business. At the same time, the program provides invaluable lessons on topics ranging from business management to health and nutrition. Gertrude has expanded her operations into a kiosk in her village and is already very good at direct sales.
Gertrude learned how to save money and build her business through her participation in Credit with Education meetings. "It's good to save money, because you never know when you may need some. I can ask a friend for money, but maybe she will not have it or give it. Through my group, I can get my own money."
Gertrude is now taking on the challenges and opportunities of becoming a HealthKeeper. HealthKeepers are salesladies who sell a range of health-protection supplies such as mosquito nets, oral rehydration salts, and water-treatment tablets in isolated rural villages. Gertrude was amongst the first of what now number over a hundred other women in Ghana who are part of this business-based approach from Freedom from Hunger to distribute health-protection supplies to the areas that have great needs but are too often underserved.
A HealthKeeper not only earns additional income, she also provides a much-needed contribution to her community by selling critical health-protection products and, with training provided by Freedom from Hunger, provides advice on her inventory and ensures customers know how to use the products properly. Gertrude's friends and family are very eager for her to be a HealthKeeper, as well as a storekeeper. They tell her to bring them what they need and she makes sure she has it in stock. "I want my children to stay in school, keep being students, and not work with me. I want to reach people as a HealthKeeper." With a broad grin she concludes, "And yes, I want to make more money."
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