Village Ladies Meeting

Since I started working in the village last term, I have always wanted to connect with the ladies out in the area, but this was on hold as I got the men’s training off and running - I have way too many ideas and dreams to start all at once!  Since returning in 2013, I've been wanting to get this started – and I received the perfect opportunity last year when the men said “Kristi, there is so much that we need to learn and do!”  To which I said “Yes, and if you want, I can teach you about animals and agriculture – and meet with the women to teach about people health!”

The road appeared and the road was granted for me to walk alongside the ladies and teach them about health!  My patience and waiting for God’s timing was given to me when the men gave me permission to teach their women.

It was many months from that meeting until we started – the timing was not yet right - from rainy season starting and the women planting their gardens; but finally, in August last year, we held our first meeting!

About 20 ladies came and we discussed what the meetings would be for.  I had some ideas, but wanted to hear their ideas.  The ladies decided they wanted to hear my ideas first.  So, I proposed that I could teach them about Village Savings and Loans and teach them about health.  They were excited about those two ideas and declared that they were good!

Thus began the women’s meetings!  The next week, I headed out and explained the process of the Village Savings and Loans system.  I had a few visitors as well who came – 1 teammate who has down these to help coach me, and 2 other teammates who wanted to learn how to start the process.

The program allows the women to contribute to a social fund and to buy shares.

The ladies contribute 50 francs (~ 10 cents) to the social fund each week, and with this money, the ladies decided to help each other in times of need such as: baby naming ceremonies, weddings, funerals.  Since then, they have also helped a family whose hut burned down and another lady who needed funds to go to the clinic for her infected foot!

The ladies also buy shares each week – they need to buy at least one share and they can purchase up to five.  Each share costs the ladies 200 francs (~ 50 cents).  Every four weeks, the ladies have the opportunity to ask for a loan from the savings – they have 3 months to repay the funds with interest.

At the end of the year, all the money saved is divided back to the ladies in the group according to the shares that they have purchased.

By the end of three weeks of setting up the system – 3 savings boxes were started and there are 75 women registered in the cash boxes!  Though not all come each week, there are around 40-50 women who come for teaching and the savings program.