Revisiting Turkana

We travel once again to Turkana to visit the women who areworking together to lift themselves out of poverty in the face ofcultural limitations and ecological challenges.

Turkana County is one of the poorest and most marginalised counties in Kenya. Prone to persistent drought and unpredictable rainfall, food shortage is a recurrent challenge for community members.

According to the World Bank (2011), ‘When women control more of the household income… children benefit as a result of increased spending on food, healthcare, home improvements and education.’ Yet for the women of Turkana, the realisation of their God-given potential is hindered due to limiting cultural norms, low access to education and the burden of providing food for their households despite the harsh environment in which they live.

The Salvation Army is supporting 15 women’s savings groups to bring transformation in the lives of families and communities living in Turkana County.

Through these groups, women regularly contribute a small amount of money to build up a communal fund. They can then each take loans from this shared pot to start or grow their business.

Naanam is a small, rural and marginalised village located approximately 80 km from Lokichoggio town in Northern Kenya and bordering the South Sudan. Here, the majority of people depend on livestock keeping for their livelihood.

It was here that five years ago I first met Esther Akiru as the women’s savings group project began.

With temperatures in Naanam reaching around 30ºC for most of the year, Esther is well acquainted with the harshness of living in a dry, dusty and hot environment. In her community, water is rare and women and girls have to walk long distances in search of it.

Esther does not allow the challenges that she faces to hinder her dream of a better life for her family and community. As chairlady of the Naanam Women’s Group, Esther is actively involved in trying to improve the experiences

and opportunities for people in the community. She shared the progress that her group has made: ‘From the women’s savings, we have now accumulated our funds to over KSH 200,000 (£1,500). We have also registered our group with the government Ministry of Social Services to ensure we are legally recognised.’

Esther shared that the training sessions the group have received through the project have equipped the women to gain confidence and start investing in small businesses. The group also work together on a collective business creating and selling ornaments, the profits from which they share amongst themselves.

Over the years, the savings group has been a stable and constant source of comfort and practical support for the women in a climate of change and uncertainty.

As the women spend time and share together whilst making the crafts, relationships have been strengthened. Together, they discuss their home lives and family health as well as

teach each other how to perfect their bead-making and share the challenges that they may be facing. This safe space also enables the women to discuss some of the cultural practices that inhibit their progress and how to address them.

Reflecting on the difficulties of the hot and dry conditions in her location Esther said, ‘Despite the drought since last year, we have been able to make some progress in our lives. We purchase beads as a group and make jewellery which we sell and share the profits. We also purchase goats when they are young and rear them to sell when they are mature. This also gives us some profit.’

As part of the group, Esther was able to take a loan of KSH 20,000 (£150) from her group and repaid this in addition to 10 per cent interest of KSH 2,000 (£15) which also helps to grow the communal fund.

I used the money to purchase grocery items at a wholesale price. Later, I sold the groceries to the people in my community, making some profit.

Esther also told me that she is now able to provide food, school fees and medical fees for her children. She said that this could not be possible in the past before joining the group.

Esther, as a strong and resilient woman, is an important role model in her group as she works hard and overcomes challenges to make progress in her life. She is also a source of empowerment to women as she provides leadership in her community which is highly patriarchal.

The Naanam group is just one of 15 groups in Turkana County, and many other women are benefiting from working alongside The Salvation in this project.

Ingolan Ekai is one of the 15 members of the Narikodapal women's group. Discussing the benefits of being a member of the group she said,

When my child is sick, I do not have to worry much since I can get some money from the group and I purchase medication... Since I joined the group, I have been able to make a profitable business of selling flour, maize and cooking oil in my small grocery shop. My children have never lacked food or school fees since I joined the group and learnt how to start my small business.

Major Agnes Loruwa is in charge of the Women's Ministries in the Turkana Division of The Salvation Army. She plays a key role in encouraging women to join and participate in the savings group project. She said,

These savings groups are uniting the women as they help and support each other. Their lives are improving.

The Salvation Army continues to support savings groups around the world. Through the 2019 Helping-Hand Appeal, Community Shares, you can stand alongside communities as they work together to overcome poverty.

Visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/communityshares to find out more.

By Violet Ruria