SLA is currently planning to hold its first ever meeting to look at social capital in Natuseko community/compound. What is Social Capital ?
Social Capital is a connection among individuals and the relationships that can be economically valuable. Social networks that include people who trust and assist each other can be a powerful asset.ir.netflix.com/glossary.cfm That is precicely what SLA wants to build on to help those who are not familiar with the facilities we have in our community.
-A number of children, marginalized, oppressed, vulnerable do not have a single clue that if they suffer from usurpation (property grabbing) they can receive free legal counsel on how to address these horrific moments seeing their property taken over by skleptocratic families (corrupt and greedy)
- A sexually abused woman/girl can easily receive free consultation legal advice by a number of groups dealing with human rights within Natuseko Community.
- Women/widows from resource poor families can apply for small innovating grants from SLA
The list goes on and on but only a few get access to such information.Savings Loans Association in collaboration with the local community is currently seeking for financial support ($5,000) to conduct a Participatory Community Awareness on the availability of Social Capital within the community and kindly ask you to support this innovative approach towards development in a sustainable manner. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
SLA TEAM
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Netherlands Albert Schweitzer Foundation
(Right) Home Based Care Givers conducting home visits
(Left)Members of SLA show off thier sewing products
The Netherlands Albert Schwitzer Foundation is a typical example of how valuable a good relationship between a donor and an implementing partner can ensure success of a project.
NASF donated $4,000 to Savings Loans Association towards a two tire program that included :
Home Based Care support for families impacted by HIV/AIDS
Small Micro Loans for poor financially insecure homes
The results have been phenomenal- raging from improved care and support for families headed by grandmothers to improved income levels at household- children's needs such as food and clothing have been provided as a result of the support of NASF therefore relieving the pain, stress and psychological trauma grandmothers feel due to the loss of their own children and now taking up such a huge responsibility of looking after thier children's children.
In the Micro credit program- small loans have transformed into big successes and therefore improve income for financially insecured homes. Almost 15 families now have benefited from NASF's grant within the SLA program catchment area. Each day, members of the families who were not able to access loans through traditional lending institutions are finding that success is possible with the help of SLA. They are using the loans to open up small shops, farming, hair salons e.t.c. The small interest they pay back to SLA is used to for creating new opportunities for others in need. This approach is creating ripples inside the local economies of poor families and therefore others benefit from the success of their friends and/ or families who are part of this program.
SLA is so grateful to NASF and hopes to scale up both programs before the end of the year with an additional grant request of $3,000 from NASF and a $2,000 grant from Color Me Inc a USA based program. A total of 15 additional members will be recruited for small micro enterprise development
NASF donated $4,000 to Savings Loans Association towards a two tire program that included :
Home Based Care support for families impacted by HIV/AIDS
Small Micro Loans for poor financially insecure homes
The results have been phenomenal- raging from improved care and support for families headed by grandmothers to improved income levels at household- children's needs such as food and clothing have been provided as a result of the support of NASF therefore relieving the pain, stress and psychological trauma grandmothers feel due to the loss of their own children and now taking up such a huge responsibility of looking after thier children's children.
In the Micro credit program- small loans have transformed into big successes and therefore improve income for financially insecured homes. Almost 15 families now have benefited from NASF's grant within the SLA program catchment area. Each day, members of the families who were not able to access loans through traditional lending institutions are finding that success is possible with the help of SLA. They are using the loans to open up small shops, farming, hair salons e.t.c. The small interest they pay back to SLA is used to for creating new opportunities for others in need. This approach is creating ripples inside the local economies of poor families and therefore others benefit from the success of their friends and/ or families who are part of this program.
SLA is so grateful to NASF and hopes to scale up both programs before the end of the year with an additional grant request of $3,000 from NASF and a $2,000 grant from Color Me Inc a USA based program. A total of 15 additional members will be recruited for small micro enterprise development
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
For others it is small, but for us it is a lot!
"For us, its a lot of money, but for others it's not"- Savings Loans Association depends on passionate people like you to help improve the lives of many women and their families impacted by HIV/AIDS and poverty.Little do you know that 1 USD currently is equal to 5,000 Zambian Kwachas. If you and your friends mobilized 50 people for each person to donate $1 only, you can help a family member to begin a micro enterprise local project. They can begin innovative locally based enterprise initiatives like hair braiding, selling of bread, growing tomatoes on the backyard and earn a living out of such a small amount.Join Savings Loans Association to change the lives of many women and families currently needing your help by being the champion to mobilize 5o members and ask them to donate $1 each.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
An interview with Mary Kombe-Chairperson of SLA
Most people think that when you give or donate, it has to be a lot-Well this is not the case with Savings Loans Association-Chindwin Home Based Care -A localy organization working in Zambia's kabwe township helping to break the cycle of multigeneartional poverty through micro laons www.sloansassociation.org
Care Givers are a good example of what giving is all about-They give their time and effort with SLA to visit homes of people who suffer many forms of challenges- ranging from illness, psycho social, financial, spiritual to mention a few. SLA members have the love, care and time to visit homes of those who need help to talk to them and make them feel happy and be loved.Yet, they are not paid not even a single ngwee (Zambian) penny (UK)/dime (USA).
Now what really motivates these volunteers to do what they do so well in this challenging economic situation we face in Zambia, especially in Kabwe with no major industrial or coporate employing company other than Zambia Electricity Company? Well I spent a few hrs talking to Mary Kombe, who is the chair lady of SLA and volunteers for the organization:
Me: What do you understand by the term Home Based Care Volunteer?
Ms Kombe: TO volunteer means a lot of things-However, the common thread about volunteering-in this case for HBC is to offer your time and effort purely on charitable basis without any finanical returns.
Me: But most of you are coming from poor families with no consistent flow of income but yet you want to sepend your time doing these activities at the expense of your family?
Ms Kombe: I know somewhere in the Bible it says that "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. [Roman 13:9]This explains everything.
Me: What are some of the challenges volunteers from SLA experience?
Ms Kombe: We all face different challenges but a few fall within the same bracket: 1) The need to help is so great but we don't have the necessary resources 2) Transportation-Even a few basic bicycles would do a great job but our organization is very small and operates on a minuscule budget and therefore can not afford 3) The pain and torture to see someone die from preventable diseases like water borne diseases, eye problems and even HIV/AIDS.
Me: What suggestions do you have for members who would like to join SLA?
Ms Kombe: SLA is a wonderful christian group that offers an opportunity for people (in particular women) to offer their passion to help others.We believe that society will be measured not by what we have achieved but what we have done for others. Our small micro grant enterprise programs offer a unique opportunity for members to join groups and receive small loans to enable them begin activities that will not only keep them busy at home but will allow them to raise abit of income to help meet the many challenging needs we all share in common such as PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.
ME: How many members have benefited from your program and where do you get such "small grants" from?
Ms Kombe: To-date we have helped close to 29 families-Typically a family in Kabwe has 6 members and therefore if you do the maths, we have helped on an average of about 174 members. Our small grants come from individuals like yourself who has a passion to help others and also from organizations like Netherlands Albert Foundation and African Millennium Foundation .
Me: Do you have any last words for the public?
Ms Kombe: Let us love one another and do what we can ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
Care Givers are a good example of what giving is all about-They give their time and effort with SLA to visit homes of people who suffer many forms of challenges- ranging from illness, psycho social, financial, spiritual to mention a few. SLA members have the love, care and time to visit homes of those who need help to talk to them and make them feel happy and be loved.Yet, they are not paid not even a single ngwee (Zambian) penny (UK)/dime (USA).
Now what really motivates these volunteers to do what they do so well in this challenging economic situation we face in Zambia, especially in Kabwe with no major industrial or coporate employing company other than Zambia Electricity Company? Well I spent a few hrs talking to Mary Kombe, who is the chair lady of SLA and volunteers for the organization:
Me: What do you understand by the term Home Based Care Volunteer?
Ms Kombe: TO volunteer means a lot of things-However, the common thread about volunteering-in this case for HBC is to offer your time and effort purely on charitable basis without any finanical returns.
Me: But most of you are coming from poor families with no consistent flow of income but yet you want to sepend your time doing these activities at the expense of your family?
Ms Kombe: I know somewhere in the Bible it says that "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. [Roman 13:9]This explains everything.
Me: What are some of the challenges volunteers from SLA experience?
Ms Kombe: We all face different challenges but a few fall within the same bracket: 1) The need to help is so great but we don't have the necessary resources 2) Transportation-Even a few basic bicycles would do a great job but our organization is very small and operates on a minuscule budget and therefore can not afford 3) The pain and torture to see someone die from preventable diseases like water borne diseases, eye problems and even HIV/AIDS.
Me: What suggestions do you have for members who would like to join SLA?
Ms Kombe: SLA is a wonderful christian group that offers an opportunity for people (in particular women) to offer their passion to help others.We believe that society will be measured not by what we have achieved but what we have done for others. Our small micro grant enterprise programs offer a unique opportunity for members to join groups and receive small loans to enable them begin activities that will not only keep them busy at home but will allow them to raise abit of income to help meet the many challenging needs we all share in common such as PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.
ME: How many members have benefited from your program and where do you get such "small grants" from?
Ms Kombe: To-date we have helped close to 29 families-Typically a family in Kabwe has 6 members and therefore if you do the maths, we have helped on an average of about 174 members. Our small grants come from individuals like yourself who has a passion to help others and also from organizations like Netherlands Albert Foundation and African Millennium Foundation .
Me: Do you have any last words for the public?
Ms Kombe: Let us love one another and do what we can ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
African Millennium Foundaton at work in Zambia-July 2009
African Millennium Foundation (AMF) http://1amf.org/index.php a US based charity in Los Angeles California is making huge strides in the lives of many families in Africa. One such family is headed by Quieen Kituta, a single widowed mother of 6 children and 3 grandchildren. In July of 2009, Lacey Uhlemeyer, program Manager for AMF and her family (shown in picture on the right) visited Savings Loans Association en route to other countries for her monitoring and site visits to come and witness first hand how small but innovative loans they provide has an impact on many families. With the small loan Ms Kituta received from her "group loan" at Savings Loans Association, she has been able to continue with her effort to raise chickens and to grow mushrooms to support her family. "Without these loans, my life would have been an uphill battle-Putting food on the table and sending my children and grandchildren to school would have been practically impossible-The loans are small: only $100 or $200 and I know that I will be able to repay back-The repayment period is equally very nice and acceptable compared to the mainstream banks and other lending institutions who may not even give you because of our poor background and no husband to support us-God is Great for groups like Savings Loans Association and Africa Millennium Foundation". Ms Kituta received a loan of $100 that she will have to pay back to her group within the agreed time frame so that others can also be supported.
African Millennium Foundation in line with the Millennium Development goals is helping organizations like SLA to address issues of poverty-One of the key solutions to poverty is a source of INCOME!
SLA with the help of organizations like AMF intends to scale up its work helping many families like Ms Kituta-But to do this "SLA requires a consitent flow of partners who can not only give us money to help communities but also help us to manage our resources and reach those who are far away in poverty stricken compounds.This should also include other development interventions such as health care, education for our children and access to clean and safe drinking water.AMF is such a good example of partners-Special thank you also goes to Malena Ruth, the Executive Director for AMF for allowing such a wonderful person like Lucey to come and visit our program" says Mary Kombe, Chairperson of SLA.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Dambisa Moyo AND DEAD AID
On behalf of everyone at Savings Loan Association, a local grassroot micro enterprise organization- we would like to support some of the views our native Zambian Economist and writer Dambisa Moyo has written in her thrilling book: DEAD AID.
Savings Loans Association http://www.sloansassociation.org/ indeed is a testimony on some of the prescriptions that Ms. Moyo preaches in her book as a solution out of poverty. At SLA, we have seen and proved that small but effective loans make a difference in the lives of the poor. Our support from passionate organizations that strongly advocate for micro loans like Color-Me-in Inc (USA) and African Millennium Foundation (USA); our own local Catholic Church at Chindwin -St Charles Lwanga Parish-clearly has seen what we can do to help poor and marginalized families tackle poverty from small loans as opposed to annual grants that come through extensive and complecated proposal writing-As a small but innovative women led organization, we believe and trust that small micro enterprise initiatives make a difference as alluded by Ms. Moyo (although at a national level she talks about macro financing). Our women groups have been able to rise above the mark by raising income from their small innovative activities such as selling well chickens or bread to well researched markets. From a monthly income of 500,000 zambian kwachas, some members are now making 800,000 (120 USD) zambian kwachas-an increase of about 300,000.This money can make a difference to send children to school,buy medicines for sick or let alone put food on the table. This approach is more effective becuase when you borrow money (small amounts) from group members, you have an obligation and commitment to pay back and be accountable to your group-Similar grounds on what Ms Moyou talks about-If Governements receive money from taxes/people, they intern will be accountable to the people they serve.
Thank you Ms Moyo for highlighting our work in your thrilling book(principle and initiatives of micro finance)-We hope that more community based initiatives will pick a leaf from your suggestions as a strategy to reduce poverty in Africa-Even though our impact at national level is very small-our support to community members as small as 20 families makes a huge difference in their lives than wondering what and where the next meal will come from. As an advocate for such an initiative, we also kindly ask you to donate even $100 to help some of our women groups as a sign of commitment to your proposal.
SLA
Savings Loans Association http://www.sloansassociation.org/ indeed is a testimony on some of the prescriptions that Ms. Moyo preaches in her book as a solution out of poverty. At SLA, we have seen and proved that small but effective loans make a difference in the lives of the poor. Our support from passionate organizations that strongly advocate for micro loans like Color-Me-in Inc (USA) and African Millennium Foundation (USA); our own local Catholic Church at Chindwin -St Charles Lwanga Parish-clearly has seen what we can do to help poor and marginalized families tackle poverty from small loans as opposed to annual grants that come through extensive and complecated proposal writing-As a small but innovative women led organization, we believe and trust that small micro enterprise initiatives make a difference as alluded by Ms. Moyo (although at a national level she talks about macro financing). Our women groups have been able to rise above the mark by raising income from their small innovative activities such as selling well chickens or bread to well researched markets. From a monthly income of 500,000 zambian kwachas, some members are now making 800,000 (120 USD) zambian kwachas-an increase of about 300,000.This money can make a difference to send children to school,buy medicines for sick or let alone put food on the table. This approach is more effective becuase when you borrow money (small amounts) from group members, you have an obligation and commitment to pay back and be accountable to your group-Similar grounds on what Ms Moyou talks about-If Governements receive money from taxes/people, they intern will be accountable to the people they serve.
Thank you Ms Moyo for highlighting our work in your thrilling book(principle and initiatives of micro finance)-We hope that more community based initiatives will pick a leaf from your suggestions as a strategy to reduce poverty in Africa-Even though our impact at national level is very small-our support to community members as small as 20 families makes a huge difference in their lives than wondering what and where the next meal will come from. As an advocate for such an initiative, we also kindly ask you to donate even $100 to help some of our women groups as a sign of commitment to your proposal.
SLA
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