Savings Groups

Teamwork makes the dreamwork

Nothing happens in the Dream Village without teamwork. In March of 2021, the sixty beneficiary families were divided into four teams of fifteen families that have been working together ever since. They built each other’s rainwater harvesting systems and rabbit hutches, and planted each other’s gardens and fruit trees. When challenges occur, members of a team help each other. If one person’s garden isn’t doing well, but another’s is, there is someone to ask for help. And, a little friendly competition between teams creates motivation for everyone to improve and succeed. Equally important, the teams provide accountability to use project resources to best improve the lives of the families and the community as a whole.

Teams create the foundation for Savings Groups

By working together over time, the teams have developed trust and connection, the essential foundation for successful Savings Groups. In October of 2022, Go Organic Africa provided training on both the importance of saving and the technical aspects of how to establish and run a savings group, utilizing training materials provided by Village Savings and Loan Association. Each Savings Group was given initial seed capital to start their group, but the responsibility has been theirs to grow the funds and define the terms of operation.

Communities like Buzaniro typically do not have access to formal financial services. If access to cash can be found, it usually comes with exorbitantly high interest rates. Research has shown that Savings Groups create economic resilience and opportunity. The Buzaniro participants contribute funds on a monthly basis. These funds, along with the initial seed capital, are used to fund loans. Cash can be borrowed in times of crisis, such as to pay unexpected healthcare bills, or to invest in resources that will enhance the family’s ability to generate income, such as new seeds or farming tools.

Savings create economic resilience

To date, the Buzaniro Savings Groups have distributed over 100 loans to community members with a 100% loan recovery rate! Here are some stories from our beneficiaries:

“I am so grateful for the loan I received. I used it to buy a sheep which has been a game-changer for me. Not only do I have a source of income, but I also have a constant supply of manure for my farm. My harvest has increased and I am now able to support my family and even save for the future. Thank you Go Organic Africa for empowering me to take control of my life!”

“I was struggling to make ends meet, but the loan from my Savings Group turned things around. I used it to buy 10kg of beans, which I planted and harvested 69 kgs! I was able to sell some and use the process to buy timber to build a new house. My family and I are now living in a safe and comfortable home.”