One Hen and Then...: The Story of a Small Loan and a Big Dream

Told in cumulative style and adapted from a “CitizenKid” title One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference to suit younger readers, this story is inspired by Kwabena Darko, known as the “Poultry King”. Kojo comes from a poor family in Ghana, but he has big dreams. He borrows a few coins from his mother and, with them, buys a hen and sells some of the eggs at the market. After repaying the loan from his mother, Kojo buys more hens, sells the eggs and saves a bit of money. He uses this money to purchase a school uniform and pay school fees. All the while, he researches ways to care for chickens, how to compost and how to grow a business. Eventually, Kojo gets a college scholarship and learns even more about entrepreneurship. He starts his own poultry farm but has difficulty securing a loan from a local bank. Undaunted, Kojo travels to the capital city to the bank’s headquarters where he explains his past business experience and convinces the banker to lend him the money. With more hens and more workers in his employ, Kojo’s business flourishes, and the lives of his workers’ families are much improved. Then he starts to give out small loans to others but only on the condition that the recipients pay it forward someday.

The story is simple and provides an introduction to microfinance that is easy for youngsters to comprehend. At the back of the book, readers will meet the real Kojo, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Darko, who worked with a microfinance organization to create a savings and loan program for poor Ghanians who wanted to start their own small businesses. There is also a list of online resources which will further readers’ understanding of the microfinance concept and the importance of advancing sustainable development.

Simple, digitally created illustrations, with sparing use of detail, are colourful, lively and well-suited to the story.

One Hen and Then...: The Story of a Small Loan and a Big Dream would be of benefit in a classroom as it ties in nicely with various curricular areas.