|
SMALL BUSINESS START-UPS AMONG GRACE LIFE WOMEN The position and concerns of women is a very visible issue worth address and advocacy. Women and girls predominantly live in poverty. This species of the human race suffer illiteracy and malnutrition. In their reproductive years many die of pregnancy complications. In developing countries women's wages are lower and the only few occupy the administrative and managerial positions. Visit any refuge camp women and children. Women woes are countless and it is from this perspective that we at Grace Life's chose to humble address the concerns of women through business start-up. In the year 2004, we shaved the vision among the women and the church administration. We got started in January 2005. WHAT WE DO. We meet at the church grounds in a monthly basis pool up our resources in terms of money allowing each individual to contribute according to their abilities. After the collection we interview member's needs of the money to identify the most pressing needs e.g. we will address a member with a need to start up rather than one requiring a top up. We all contribute jealously but willingly give to two or three members to use our resources as others wait humbly for their terns. The individuals who qualify for our mini loans undergo a further interview. HOW THEY ARE TO EFFECTIVELY USE THE LOANS. At these point members give advice on the way forward. To be specific, Jane borrowed a loan for charcoal vending she was advised to add paraffin and firewood to her stock of fuel. In addition she was linked to the fuel suppliers unknown to her before. Midway her loan period, a team from the group visits her on the ground to asses her performance and encourage her accordingly. At the end of one's loan period of 2-3 months the Loaned returns the money with a 5% interest to facilitate the loan to another person. In addition every member contributes towards the pool monthly. We employ TABLE-BANKING for accountability and fast transactions. Table-banking here means all the money transactions are done at table before the members. In all our meeting we pray worship God and virtually look upon Him for our next move. Our resources have grown from Ksh 1,100 - Ksh 80,676 December 2006 - Glory To God our EBENEZER! OUR LIMITATION - Lack of funds to engage all members in Loans at ago so that some have to really wait for over ½ a year for their turns. - There is wide spread illiteracy among the members this effects their effective business turn-over. We need workshops, seminars to up date, up grade them but we lack money to hire the expertise. - Know our analysis - co-operate business would thrive better than individual enterprises but this too requires a bigger capital out - lay that we currently lack. - For effective follow ups we need proper means of communication and transport. We all desire to have phones and s vehicle but are yet to achieve. A vehicle would solve several problems - transport of merchandise for members and visitation to sister pioneer and successful groups We require a central place - office for effective administration of the project. At the moment we physically look for one another, discuss a long the road at the church grounds corner. We need a bank account yet members needs supersede our resources leaving us with no extra cent to open an account. OUR STRENGTH. The entire Church have complimented our efforts, have encouraged us and remain our prayer partners. The project members participate fully in church matters. The members No's have grown from 7 - 47 by January 2007 We work hand in hand with our sister church in Nzoia. With Christ we are destined for greater impacts all over FUTURE PLANS. Not very long from now, we hope to achieve the following: Get uniforms for members this is already in progress we are buying for one in turns. Open a bank account in April 2007 we have co-corporately invested somewhere and by April when we get our returns we shall open our bank account. Open an office - we shall borrow a room at the church temporarily as we plan to get one in town. Grow into a micro-finance institution with a difference serving larger areas, bigger numbers thus creating employment. Buy a vehicle for facilitating the activities of the group. Advance from economic empowerment to social economic empowerment. OUR APPEAL To our beloved members of our society, do you find this a worthy course? Partner with us. We need your prayers, your love, your funds, your advice, your opinion and all will go towards expanding God's kingdom here on earth.
|
