Empower Women through the Self Help Group Approach

As mentioned in my previous report, we recently held another very successful Self Help Group Exchange Visit Day in the Mamabolo area. Tebogo is the Community Facilitator (CF) of that area and she and her groups, Rehogile and Tswelopele        hosted an exciting day. People came from Bolobedu and Capricorn to renew friendships, learn from one another and sell their wares while admiring and buying those of other group members (See photos below). 

I would now like to introduce you to our CFs from Bolobedu. They are Joyce, Dinah and Virginear. Between them, they are responsible for looking after 51 Self Help Groups  (SHGs) and one Cluster Level Association (CLA). While the Self Help Groups focus on Me and My Family, the CLA focuses on Me and My Community. Joyce, Dinah and Virginear are all very different personalities, but they are all passionate about Community Development and helping the ladies in their various Self Help Groups. They attend meetings to make sure that all the bookwriters are keeping accurate records and to give any advice that is needed. Each group is autonomous and is governed by their own constitution but the CFs are invaluable in keeping records of the total funds saved, loaned and most importantly, repaid. They have encouraged them to start businesses such as baking scones and vetkoek, sewing  traditional garments, raising and selling chickens and doing beadwork.

Next week, from 8-12 September, GlobalGiving will be running its Passport to Purpose Campaign. This campaign has $150000  available to be paid to organisations as matching funds. I would therefore like to appeal to you to consider donating to our project next week so that we can receive some of those matching funds as well. The direct link for our project is https://globalgiving.org/projects/thusanang-self-help-groups. We are very grateful for all donations as these are the only funds we have for most of this project. 

Links:

• Help Rural Women Help Themselves