We continue to learn lessons about the importance of helping people help themselves. While self-help is World Renew’s desired and ultimate goal, it is a challenging road for communities. However, the benefits are so rewarding! Our participants regain their confidence, acquire skills, discover their potential, and manage the resources around them for improved livelihood in spite of any existing religious and cultural difficulties. The goal of the self-help group approach is to equip and empower communities for better livelihood by empowering women. This is a good entry point and vehicle into community development. The work involves building sustainable initiatives by training community facilitators from the first day we begin to work in a community. We do not promise any hand outs, but train key leaders and bookkeepers to manage the groups. Self-help groups seek to renew, rebuild and restore relationships in the communities.
However, the benefits are so rewarding! Our participants regain their confidence, acquire skills, discover their potential, and manage the resources around them for improved livelihood in spite of any existing religious and cultural difficulties. The goal of the self-help group approach is to equip and empower communities for better livelihood by empowering women. This is a good entry point and vehicle into community development. The work involves building sustainable initiatives by training community facilitators from the first day we begin to work in a community. We do not promise any hand outs, but train key leaders and bookkeepers to manage the groups. Self-help groups seek to renew, rebuild and restore relationships in the communities.
The Umoja Story
The self-help group approach focuses on the poorest and most marginalized people of the community. The Umoja (Swahili for “togetherness”) group was formed in March 2011 in Asunga Parish, Midia Sub-County, Koboko District, in northwestern Uganda. The Umoja group has twenty members, all women. One of the key communal activities that holds them together is a savings and loan project. As members meet every week, they share common issues, challenges, lessons, and activities. To date, the Umoja group has saved UGX$683, with each member contributing 20 US cents every week to the group fund. The group’s success at saving money has increased their cohesion, enhanced their leadership skills, and increased their priority for saving to prove their financial resources.
As a result, the Umoja group members are proud to say, “I used not to speak in public, but now I can talk, and we can sign our names in the minute book. Soon we will be able to speak in English. We have learned to keep our cashbook, minute book, and individual passbooks. We can speak to what we need to see change.” These comments show an increased awareness of gender roles and empowerment learned through group advocacy training. The women say, “We can access loans from the money we have saved without paying interest to outside lenders.”
“I am very happy to have started a fish selling business. It is quite profitable.”
“At first we were in darkness, but now our eyes are open. We used to suffer from stomachulcers due to poor nutrition and lack of food at home, but the group has provided opportunities to improve food availability. We are happy we are given knowledge and not a hand-out of money. We have the money in our village.”
The Umoja group has also helped members to learn how to manage time well. “I have to prepare lunch early so I can get to the meeting on time or I will have to pay the fine of UGX$200 if I am late.”
Thirty community volunteer facilitators have been trained in the formation and management of the self-help groups in three project areas. Eventually these volunteers will give over their roles and responsibility to the community to take charge of their own development initiatives. The Umoja self-help group thinks that the role of the community facilitator has come to an end after almost nine months. They feel equipped to take charge and manage without the support of the volunteer facilitator, saying, “We do not think we still need your support; we can manage on our own.”
Yes, this is an entry point for sustainable community development. These women, as well as the men and children around them, are the direct and indirect beneficiaries of this bottom-up development approach. Eventually the Ujoma group may join with other groups like it into a Cluster-level association and a larger federation (CBO). These are a good way to address additional community needs, allowing members to take charge of their own evaluation and monitoring.
Program Consultant
World Renew Uganda
