A large part of our resources
are used as revolving micro-credit: lending people the
funds they need to start their own enterprises. Most of
this goes to women, who are the poorest members of society.
We have circulated over £1m credit in the last decade
and have found that the very poorest people, who own nothing
and can provide no guarantees for repayment, are the most
dependable debtors.
Pimentos grown with seed planting
Raising sheep
11,108
women are currently involved in this scheme in 178 villages.
Loans from £3-£35.00 per person provide the
means to start a range of small enterprises such as raising
and breeding sheep or pigs; planting better and more varied
seed crops; growing vegetables or starting small market
activities such as pressing peanut, shea or neem oil,
spinning cotton for weavers, making soap or buying resources
for trading iodised salt (which is dramatically reducing
the incidence of goitre), dried fish, or sun-dried tomatoes,
onions and okra. The trade also brings more nourishing
and varied foods into the area.
Although the enterprises are small,
the revenue they raise makes a significant difference,
giving women the means to provide better food for the
family, to get medical treatment when the children are
sick, and some means of security when crops fail, or when
husbands are away trying to find work in towns. It is
wonderful that the women are gaining some resources for
the first time. The most profitable activity this year
has been breeding the large desert sheep from Niger. Thank
you for your generous gifts to support the women’s
enterprises.
Vegetables grow beautifully
in areas where they can be hand-watered if women have
the funds to buy seeds The credit groups
gradually increase their funds by putting interest on
their loans. As the loans are repaid, the interest becomes
a growing fund to use independently of the charity. The
women are marvellous entrepreneurs and many credit groups
have raised thousands of pounds for themselves.
Literacy Training
This year 86 women who are Treasurers
of the Credit Groups have completed their two-year literacy
training. Literacy and accounting skills in local languages
help the women to become self-supporting and for the credit
group to continue independently of the charity. It also
helps the women to sell their produce more widely and
not be undercut on prices, and to develop their businesses.
Literacy Training for
the leaders of our Credit Groups. Many groups have built
up substantial funds by adding interest to their loans,
and quite a number have gained over £1,000. The
training will allow the women to establish their own Credit
Unions and manage their accumulated funds independently
of Joliba, and our initial credit can be passed on to
new villages.
