Mother's Day

Hello all :)

Just a quick email (that in retrospect, has actually become quite long...) in advance of Mother's Day. This year I am giving Mum something special from Uganda and thought I'd let you know about it in case you are stuck for a gift idea for your mothers or grandmothers! But please do not feel any pressure or obligation to participate, it is just something I thought I'd share. I am also looking for some feedback on the idea, as it is something I thought YOFAFO could run as a fundraising campaign next year.

Each year at Christmas, organisations such as OXFAM pitch campaigns such as 'OXFAM Unwrapped', whereby people purchase things like goats or chickens for their loved ones. These animals are then given to people in communities in developing countries. After seeing the impact one cow can really make, I can vouch for the fact this really does make a difference!

In a bit of a Mother's Day twist I thought I'd send Mum a gift which will hopefully change the life of a woman in Uganda, and also the lives of her children.

I have already emailed you a little information about YOFAFO's micro-finance program, but here is a rehash. YOFAFO currently has 120 women on their books for the micro-finance program, and many others who would love to join and are waiting until YOFAFO receives some more funding from the heavens! The program has been running for about four years and has been a huge success. Women are first assessed on their ability to manage their money and make repayments, and are provided some education about money management. They are then placed in groups of five, with each member of the group guaranteeing the others. Combined with the nature of the tight-knit community and the leadership provided by its women, it has been very rare for a loan repayment not to be made. And in most cases where the repayments haven't been made on time, YOFAFO has eventually been able to recover the money. YOFAFO charges 3 per cent compounding interest on the loans, with those profits injected back into the program. The interest charged pays for stationery and a very small wage (stipends) for the community volunteers who give their time every week at the 'community bank' where they provide education, receive and process applications, do the paperwork for the loan repayments etc.

Without programs like this, women in Uganda would not be able to secure any type of loan. Women cannot be granted a loan from the bank unless they have the colateral of a husband or father. Most women in the villages where YOFAFO works lose their fathers when they are children, meaning they really rely on the colateral of a husband. The women who make up the 120 people on YOFAFO's micro-finance books are those who have lost their husbands (in which case the husband's family usually comes and takes everything and leaves the woman with nothing), who have had children out of wedlock, who haven't yet married, whose husbands have left them for someone else and taken everything with them, and also some young entrepeneurs. 

At first, many men in the community were reluctant about the program and were unhappy about women having their own independence. Some women have had to continue with the program in secret so as their husbands don't take the money from them. But attitudes are changing, as YOFAFO is also providing education to men about the importance of women having a strong sense of self-esteem, of being empowered and independent. They educate the men about how a woman's financial independence and programs such as this can benefit the entire family. They can now see that it not only improves the family's financial position and health status, but also provides role-modelling for their children.

Initial loans start at 100,000 Ugandan schillings, which is the equivalent of about $50. This is enough for a woman to start her own business and completely change her life.

Small businesses have included fruit and vegetable stalls, second-hand clothes sales, tailoring and the hire of boda bodas. The income the women generate means they can afford better food for their families, some school supplies and clothes for their children, soap for washing clothes etc..  Some women have even been able to build a new room for their 'house' so they don't have six children, four chickens and one grandmother sleeping and living in the kitchen.

This Mother's Day, I am giving my Mum a loan of $50, which will go to a woman in the village of Bulimaji, near Lugazi. I will ask Doreen to help me follow what happens with this loan and connect Mum with the woman who receives it. Mum will receive a small surprise gift from Bulimaji in the mail. Next year, YOFAFO is considering offering packages whereby people can donate any amount they like, but $50 will mean they receive a photo story about the woman who receives it, and $150 will mean they receive a small film about the woman.

If anyone else likes this idea, knows of anyone else who might, or has some feedback on it I would love to hear from you. Again, please do not feel any obligation -- it's my trial run of the idea and also a bit of a Mother's Day surprise for Doreen. Doreen is Valence's wife and as well as running the micro-finance program, she is also an amazing mother and has been doing a wonderful job of looking after myself and all the other volunteers who have come and gone over the years :)

An early Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Love,

Amy xoxo