Saving for Change
This program fosters cooperation among widows and empowers them to change their circumstances. It provides a way out of poverty for widows who have no means of support or training.
More than 4,000 women have formed groups of 25 or so, elected officers, learned basic business concepts, received training in marketing principles and are seeing their small enterprises bring in a little money.
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| Mothers earn and save money to send their children to school |
At meetings the women learn how to form business co-ops, conduct meetings, collect dues and repay loans. They elect officers: a president, a recorder, a keeper of the money box and a keeper of the key to the money box.
Each group is given a small amount of seed money. Groups discuss viable business and marketing opportunities in their location. They decide among themselves how much and who should receive a small loan from their money box.
Each week they evaluate the effectiveness of those who have received loans. Each person repays their loan as they receive payment for the selling of their goods. they are allowed to keep a percentage of their earnings.
The widows in the program are using the money they save to pay for their children’s education. All students in Burkina Faso must pay to enroll in school so many village children are not able to attend school. These widows are making certain their children learn things that will give them a better future.
The women gain confidence in what they can accomplish as a group. They are showing their children that diligence and education are important.
