Africa Programs
Changing Lives in Tanzania
At one time, Gefruda Damian’s only income came from the tomatoes she sold out of a bucket in the central square of her village, Mukigo, high in the mountains of Tanzania’s Kigoma region, bordering Burundi.
But in 2000 she received a visit from staff at JGI’s TACARE (Lake Tanganyika Catchment Reforestation and Education) program that would change her life. Their offer to join a micro credit program has allowed Gefruda (pictured on the right) to pool her savings with other village residents. The villagers receive funds to match their savings from JGI, and have created a fund from which small individual loans are issued. In March 2001, with a loan in Tanzanian Shillings equal to around $50, Gefruda bought tomatoes wholesale. Within 12 months, she had increased her income two-fold. With subsequent loans, she expanded her inventory and now has a small shop from which she sells flour, sugar and clothes. Three of her children can now attend Secondary School and she says she is better able to care for her family’s clothing, dietary and health needs as well. |
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The Mugiko Micro Credit Group
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Today she enters Mukigo’s micro credit office looking like the leader she is, dressed in a boldly patterned blue and white kanga and yellow head scarf. She is convening a meeting of the Mukigo Micro Credit Group as its chairperson. Indicating the members gathered around her, she says: “With the level of poverty, they were not in a position to raise their income because of small capital. By joining resources, they are now able to get more money.” The Mukigo group started with 35 members in 2000, but quickly grew to its current number of 57, most of them women. Many started businesses in food sales, sustainable timber or vegetable and coffee farming. TACARE has supported 12 micro credit groups to date throughout Kigoma. Most have around 60 members, with women accounting for 60 percent of membership. The groups’ repayment rate averages 88 percent. Mukigo’s repayment rate is even higher at 97 percent |
Gefruda’s experience demonstrates the livelihood advantages of small scale savings and loan programs, and that women can improve their status as income earners and village leaders. The drive for improvement through micro credit proves contagious. Says Gefruda: “The community members realize the potential. Many are now coming to join the group because they have seen so many people benefit.”
