LAINS trained over 60 rural women in Chiwundura with financial skills and savings groups. See how women empowerment in rural Zimbabwe creates lasting change for families and communities.
Celebrating the strength and resilience of women in Chiwundura and how LAINS supports female-led community development in rural Zimbabwe.
We believe leaders are not just found in big companies or big orgnisations. The truth however is that they are also found in small villages. One of our members worked with Save Our Environment Trust and local women in a bid to empower them. The idea was to help them work hard in everything they do and also make a good living for the sake of their families.
An announcement was made to the community through the local leasdership structures. The first thing that happened was gathering groups of and a briefing was done. We then started by giving the women new tools irrespective of their ages or status within the village but these were not garden tools they were learning tools. The program encompassed two areas which were
1. Learning Bookkeeping
Before the training each person was asked to tell the group how they have been treating their finances. Of interest was Mai Kuda who said " ini zvangu mari dzangu ndaichengetera muchigaba" (As for me I was keeping my money in a tin). The women used to keep records basically in their heads or on written pieces of paper which were never filed but just put in the house. We then taught them public bookkeeping public in the sense that these were not funds for an individual but belonged to a group of women. This was beacuse there were three groups being Mateza garden, Varozvi harden and also a group from Maguma. Since they all belonged to gardens they would farm crops and upon harvesting would sell the produce with the proceeds belonging to members of the garden. We took them through a theory session then practicals on how to record their finances and also filing. After the training they now write down all money in a special book that everyone can see and understand. We also asked them to have acommttee and thus the book with financial records is kept by the treasurer. This helps them manage their community projects better. We also donated box fires so that they could file their records.
2. Starting Savings Groups
We taught them about ISL Schemes (Internal Savings and Lending). A thing that they were not doing at all. This is a simple idea where the women save money together as a group through contributions from each member. We showed them how to record the figures. We also taught them on how to come up with a constitution for each group as well as having an excutive committee. When contributions reaches a certaing level then they can lend that money to each other at an affordable agreed interest rate. On inetrest rate they unanimiuisly agreed on 10%. This way they do not have to borrow from banks that charge very high interest and also require collateral security. Borrowing fron their fund enables the fund to organocally grow.
The Theory of Change postulates that whenever an intervention occurs long term impacts should be visible. The change from before to after should be sustainable. This training was not just about numbers as in financial figures but it was about changing their mindset in other words how the women think. At first, they saw themselves as just women working in the nutrition gardens so as to have agricultural harvets at the end of each season. Women empowerment in rural Zimbabwe looks like bookkeeping, savings, and becoming your own financial leader. Now after learning bookkeeping and savings they see themselves differently. They see themselves as Financial Leaders and Project Managers. This new way of thinking is the most important part of our work. It creates change that is sustainable.
When a woman in a village learns to manage money it helps more than just her as an individual. We call this the "ripple effect" meaning the family and realtives alike also benefit. First of all she can now pay school fees for jer Children at Gambiza primary school on time and buy what the family needs in Gweru or Kwekwe. It also results in village growth since the money they save stays and ciruculate within the village thus having a multiplier effect. They lend it to each other and the whole community gets stronger through financial inclusion as well as financial stability. Finally they become trainer of trainers through teaching others as well. The women we trained are now teachers. They are showing other women in the village how to do the same thing. Savings groups for rural women in Zimbabwe are changing lives one contribution at a time.
Our Impact by the Numbers
· Over 60 women in Chiwundura gained women financial skills that transformed how they manage money and leadership insights.
· Community Support: Our local traditional leaders came to support the training and celebrate the women.
About the Author
This article was written by the Lains Team in its entirety a group committed to supporting community development initiatives more so in the rural areas. The team works with all the communities to share experiences and knowledge that promote women empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and local economic development.
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