Helping women realise their potential
The Amangwe Village self-help programme has boomed in popularity since its inception in 2009
WOMEN of Sokhulu near KwaMbonambi are becoming empowered and realising their potential after joining, and forming their own, self-help groups as part of Amangwe Village’s self-help programme.
The programme started in 2009 with just three groups of 20 women and three Amangwe staff members.
Today there are 175 groups, totaling 3 594 women, across Fuleni, Makhwazini, Sokhulu and KwaMthethwa.
To date, more than R1-million in total has been saved and put to good use.
Each self-help group meets weekly and each member pays R2 every week.
As money is saved, loans are made to group members, to be used strictly for necessities or starting businesses.
Loans are paid back one month later, with 10% interest.
The Zamani self-help group featured in this article was formed in May 2014 and has, to date, saved R14 000.
Group members have borrowed money for school uniforms, vegetable seeds to start businesses, cement and other materials to build, or complete, their homes.
Siphiwe Mkhwanazi borrowed money to build a rondawel and buy a TV, while Sindisiwe Mtshali built a house.
At the April loan repayment, Beauty Cele paid back R600 which she had borrowed to buy vegetable seedlings.
With these, she will generate an income from a small vegetable selling business.
Apart from the usual loans, the Zamani group has decided to give each member R2 000.
Each month, two group members will receive the money, which will be done each month until every group member has received R2 000.
Each group is run by a constitution and overseen by an Amangwe Community Facilitator and Staff Partner.
Women belonging to the group are unemployed and encouraged to use their borrowed money to start small businesses.
There are strict rules at the meetings and group members are fined R2 if they talk during proceedings, if their phones ring or if they start trouble.
Each group has two bookkeepers who record all financial dealings and double-check each other, to avoid mistakes or miscalculations.
‘I can see the difference in these women from when they first joined the group,’ said Erna Steynberg, Amangwe Village Manager.
‘They were so withdrawn at first but as they become empowered, they become more confident.’
