Mosite Bitew, a mother of two, is residing at Eastern Gojjam Zone of Amhara State. As a member of women Self-Help-Group (SHG), Mosite together with women in her vicinity begin to save 0.25 cents at weekend since 2006. By then, members did not consider the value of saving cents. After received training on the importance of saving, they realized the immense benefit of saving and continued to accumulate small amount of money by increasing its amount day by day.
Above all, their level of understanding was lifting up when they can borrow money with low amount of interest rate. After long years of journey, the union is able to save in millions and reaches to the level where it can provide loan for others members of the community.
Mosite, a mother of two had been engaged in small business to earn a living. Besides not knowing the loss and profit of the business, she was familiar with the value of saving. Later on, facilitators train her how to save small amount of coffee. Previously, she was residing in shabby shack. Through saving, she is able to amend the house. “Instead of assisting me, my husband drinks a lot and we clash each other. Finally, the tragedy relation was ended by divorce.
Since then, she cultivates half of the land by her own and plows the leftover hiring other farmers. “Since I joined the union, my livelihood is getting better and better. I can keep my hygiene and dressing well. Previously, mothers were not come out of their cabin.” Now, things seemed totally changed; the women in SHG are initiating other targeting the same change.
Realizing that nothing can be done with the absence of peace, the women in SHG are playing their part to ensure peace in their vicinity. Receiving the advice of these women, the youth found in her village are striving to improve their livelihood even going far reaching desert areas. ”Though our township is peacefully, we did not hesitate to protect the village from anti peace elements.”
The union, Mosite belongs to, is actively participated in social activities too. They for instance, instigate 100 physically impaired children to get education and other assistance. “We fetch water for schools.” When conflict arises between couples, some adult women gathered together and try to arbitrate the dispute peacefully.
Zemzem Menur is a member of Yitawek Union which established in 2005. Recognizing that peace is a cornerstone for socioeconomic activities, the union has strongly been working with security forces to ensure peace in Addis Ketema Sub City in the capital. Preventing sexual violence both in women and children is one of the notable changes that the union brings about.
Recoiling that they were found at lowest stage and economically dependent on the income of our husbands, Zemzem said since the onset of the union, the livelihood of the members are slightly changing. By the initiation of we grouped ourselves and start to save small amount of money. “During that time, I was the only woman discourage others to refrain themselves from joining the group until the training changed my-mindset.”
To be economically independent, I was coloring clothes for sale. In the mean time, the NGO was phase-out and leave the place by dropping chairs and tent. Through time, the union is able to increase the number of tents, chairs to seven and 300 respectively. Accordingly, the union earns various incomes by renting the chair and tents.
Noting that the group she belongs to has 25,000 Birr capital, Zemzem said when members have faced difficulties, they took money to address it. Using the capital, the group brings expensive products and distribute among ourselves after fixed to pay within three months. What is more, group members are also participating in development activities.
The group also provides training for 74 children on week days besides assisting uniform and exercise book. In order to strengthen their activities, the group members need to have hall and engage in income generating activities in order to sustain and strengthen the assistance given to these children.
Now, Zemzem, a mother of one is a happiest woman in her vicinity. “Previously, I was ashamed off to stand and speak in front of people, thanks to the skill development training offered to me, I can express myself confidently.” Considering the benefit she earns from her group, she encourages women to form SHG.
Atsede Ketema, 45, is chairman for Enadgalen Union found at Werehilu woreda of Amhara State. Since its inception, members of the association begin to save one Birr. When the saving grew up, members have got the chance to borrow some amount of money to change their livelihood. They, for instance, built better shelters and some others are able to feed themselves twice a day.
Above all, the union enables them to create social solidarity among themselves especially at times of special occasion. The union has 1,000 members with a total capital of 566,425 Birr. Currently, members of the union have engaged in income generating activities such as vending vegetables, injera and edible food staffs.
Some others are also involved in animal husbandry. When conflict arises, the union tries to manage disputes together with other members of the community. They are also expose child labor exploitation and make wrongdoers liable by law.
Every member of the union has recognized the importance of peace and works day and night for the realization of peace. In order to raise awareness of the community towards peace, members contribute five Birr by the end of a month. On the other hand, they give an advice for the youth in order to protect themselves from illegal acts.
Considering that women are prone for insecurity especially at times of conflict, they are deliberating on peace when they meet every week. If they are found anti peace elements, they did not hesitate to expose them to security officials. Especially, if a strange individual has appeared in the town, they provide unreserved assistance until he concludes tasks. Conversely, if he comes for disturb the peace of the village; they expose him to the police to receive legal punishment.
As she is a mother of four, Atsede has been striving to earn a living especially since her husband died. “Since then, I have engaged in trading vegetables going to traditional market place in my vicinity.” For this to happen, I borrowed some amount of money from the union, open a small shop to sell spice and other traditional foodstuffs. Parallel to this, she is serving the public via performing managerial works at the grass root level by which she can develop leadership skills.
“Previously, I don’t think that borrowing money is a means to escape the vicious cycle of poverty. Besides upgrading my mindset, the training helped me to easily communicate with people and even to reside in harmony with two of my children.”
Yosef Akalu, is a Director for Consortium of Self Help Group Approach Promoters. He said that women involved in the union are actively engaged in ensuring peace in their vicinity. And the consortium is assist unions in terms of providing finance, projects, capacity building trainings, advice among others. For this, the consortium creates various platforms that enable them to exchange, views, idea and best practices.
Economically, these associations have brought notable change by upgrading their saving capacity. Now, they have operating with a capital of about 200 million Birr. The figure doesn’t include their asset and social capital. Those who were economically dependent on their husbands are now shifted to the owner of small business. Above all, they are developing sense of “I can”.
“Then if we integrate them with formal institutions, such as Banks, the consortium believed that their economic tie would even be better than the previous.” They started saving by their own initiation and if they get a little assistance, they can be going beyond that.
Socially, at this moment, they are expressing themselves well and manage their environs and family too. Generally, they are now reaching to the level of “self esteem.” Besides standing to change their livelihood, the unions can also help each other through creating strong social network.
If unions have got legal permit and be transformed to formal institutions, they can do with formal institutions. To do so, the consortium is working with government bodies found in different hierarchy.
The Ethiopian Herald December26, 2019
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
