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| Members of Unity Group attending a weekly meeting on 1/11/2014 |
A group of Women and Men in Torit town, the
State Capital of Eastern Equatoria, in South Sudan; have found a new way of
saving a small part of their own income which is later awarded to the members
in form of loan.
Two groups, one known as Unity Group at
Fodo-fodo Boma and the other known as Alfa group at Ilangi Boma have been
formed under the initiative of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA),
with the intention of empowering women so that they become self-reliant.
Most of the beneficiaries of the
empowerment program are already having income generating activities in Torit
market.
Helen Francis, one of the members of Unity
Group said the village saving group will help them in paying school fees for
their children.
“We started the registration in the
market, and then we came to the office of SARRA. We were trained by an
organization called CORDAID, some people thought the organization was going to
give money, but after three weeks of training, we sat down to start our
contributions. Our contributions accumulated until now we have started taking
loan from it. We in the market, are raising our children through difficulties,
the loan is going to help us in paying school fees, buying of exercise books,
pens and papers for our children. After nine months, we will be able to train
some people” said Helen.
Members of the Unity group, on Saturday 1st
November 2014 sat for a meeting to continue with their contributions and also
to receive their first loan amounting to 200 South Sudanese Pounds for each of
the fifteen members out of 30 in the group.
Hassan Abdallah Hamis Abdallah, one of
members for Unity group said the group agreed to contribute a minimum of 10
South Sudanese Pounds which accumulated to three thousand South Sudanese Pounds
(3,155 SSP) in seven weeks from September 2014.
“We agreed that our minimum contribution
will be 10 SSP, those who can pay 20, 30 SSP, and above depending on once
income would have their amounts recorded against their names on the savings
book” Abdallah said.
Hassan said the loan will be paid back
after 45 days with an interest of 10% of the amount taken.
The group has set a number of rules and
regulations to guide its operations. Rispa Hiyalla, Chairperson of the group
cited payment of one South Sudanese Pound as a fine for each member who comes
late in a meeting as one of the rules. She said the fine together with a social
fund of 2 SSP paid by each member, is used to facilitate activities of the
group including buying water and hiring chairs for use during meetings.
A self-selected group is the criteria used
for the formation of groups which ranges from 15 to 30 members. The
registration of group members was facilitated by Solidarity Association for
Relief and Recovery Affairs (SARRA) with support from CORDAID.
Rispa Hiyalla encourages women and men to
form more other groups to be able to benefit from the trainings and the loans
for the progress of group members.
