Self-reliance: Projects making progress in Tanzania, South Sudan and Portsmouth

TEA STALL HELPS JANE START A NEW CHAPTER

Groups empower women to seek business success, says Naomi Herbert

Through her membership of literacy and savings groups run by Mothers’ Union, Jane Sida managed to set up a successful tea stall and support her children after her husband left her.

Jane, who lives in South Sudan, has three children aged five, three and one. When her husband left, she had no income and did not know how to manage. She was scared that she would not be able to provide for her children and struggled to buy food. Her fellow Unity group members supported her and prayed for her, which helped give Jane the confidence to learn the business skills she needed.

The Unity group is one of the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) supported by Mothers’ Union South Sudan. Jane was part of the Literacy and Financial Education Programme (LFEP) in South Sudan since 2010. The LFEP empowers women to learn business skills and

We are healthy and have enough “to eat, due to this income

SAVINGS ADD UP TO GREATER SELF-ESTEEM

Financial independence has paid dividends for Monica. By Abigail Saidi

Monica has been part of an MU savings group in Tanzania since 2018, which has had a huge impact on her self-esteem.

‘I am more independent. I can pay my children’s school fees and buy medication. I don’t have to rely on my husband anymore.’

Through the savings she has accumulated, Monica has been able

become entrepreneurs, increase their families’ wellbeing and become self-reliant.

Once Jane was accredited literate, she and other Unity members formed the VSLA group, whose members save together, support each other and offer small loans to one another to start micro businesses. They also learn business skills, and the group facilitators use Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools to challenge the participants’ attitudes to fatalism, poverty and dependency.

Jane took a loan of SSP 10,000 (£25) to start a tea stall. She learned through business skills training that she should survey potential customers, to identify and prioritise people’s needs. Jane sells spiced black tea, hibiscus tea and coffee. Each week, Jane makes a profit of about SSP 6,000 (£15). Half of this profit feeds her children, who she now feels have more than enough to eat. ‘We are healthy and have enough to eat, due to my income,’ Jane said. She dreams of expanding her business when there is peace in South Sudan.

Being part of her group and their fellowship has made Jane read the Bible more often. As a result, Jane said she feels closer to Jesus. Since her neighbours have seen her struggle and emerge able to provide, they will come and share their burdens with her, so she can pray for them.

to expand her food sales business to make it more financially viable and provide a much-needed second income for her family, relieving financial pressure and reducing conflict in her marriage.

She makes regular payments to the savings group’s social fund, used in emergencies like family sickness or death. Social funds are insurance — this puts Monica and her group among the minority of Tanzanians who have insurance – less than 30%. By working together, the group show their love and care for one another.

Through savings, Monica has been able to expand her small food sales business and make it more financially viable “

THE TIES THAT BIND

Every small action creates effects which can be transforming, says Alison Fernandes

In October 2019, Mothers’ Union’s Diocese of Portsmouth started Metamorphosis - a series of Bible study workshops using drama and art, prayer, games and simple tools to understand communities.

Relationships were built and mini projects planned. As the workshops progressed, a holiday hunger project was initiated and the church started hosting a weekly night shelter for homeless guests. The pandemic spawned new connections. Over Christmas, three churches knitted gloves and mittens and provided presents, chocolates and craft materials for children in two of the local homeless hostels. They made Christmas bags of love for staff in the local care home.

As one of the participants said:

‘I have gone from feeling I can’t do anything, to realising that although my “stone”; is small, it is creating ripples of change in the communities as I use my skills to help others.’