Women's Self Help Groups
Self Help Groups are a powerful element for Community Empowerment. Working in groups of 12, women learn the concept of saving, something that they never thought that they could do. The training begins with understanding how to save and keep a cashbook to document their savings. The savings of the group are pooled and loaned back to the participants. Once the women see that they can save, the transformation begins.
After learning basic economic skills, the group starts a group business, and most of the women also have a personal business. Training and follow-up last three months, but the women continue to meet weekly to learn about successes and offer advice for challenges. The sense of community lasts much longer; many women say their group members are closer than sisters.
The success of the women has been extraordinary.
Self-Help Group Achievements
The women in the Self Help Program have chosen many different businesses. They have also learned how to shift to another business as the markets shift.
Women participate first in a week-long training facilitated by a local trainer with significant interaction and role-playing.
Mary Mtambo, training coordinator, explains Self Help concepts.
Women meet weekly after the initial training, with follow-up training, and then continue their weekly meetings indefinitely.
Rotarian Andre Bongers facilitates a Focused Training session on the elements of a successful business.
Graduation is an important event for the women. They are proud of their success.