Some of the crafts which grandmothers make and sell to get money. Before such skills were exploited members were living in absolute poverty.
KYOTERA. Prior to 2017, getting a loan was hard for the aged mothers of Kakundo Village, Kirumba sub county, Kyotera District.
“You could get a problem and have nowhere to run to for help,” Cate Nalwoga, a resident, recalls the ordeal then.
The only alternative, as the 65 -year- old shares, was for fellow grandmothers to run to their friends who save with bigger groups and Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisations (Saccos) to get for them money.
But this didn’t only come with huge interests ,but it also took long for them to get the money.
However, this as Nalwoga recalls, came to pass after Kitovu Mobile, through its Grand Mother and OVC project, organised them in solidarity groups to empower them economically.
Members of Bukadde Magezi solidarity group in a meeting with their coordinators from Kitovu Mobile.
Under these groups, the mothers engage in saving and borrowing, making crafts which they sell to get money as well as creating vegetable gardens.
Dubbed Bukadde Magezi Solidarity group, the group which started with 14 members in 2017, has fetched fortunes for the Kakundo aged mothers as Nalwoga, the group chairperson narrates .
“Members borrow money any time and solve their problems. Most members borrow and buy books for their grand children; others borrow to deworm their livestock as well as treating them ”
Imelda Nakiito, 60, one of the group members, says even when one is not able to reach the Sacco offices , she can just send a child who goes to the chairperson and get the money .
Grandmothers of Bukadde Magezi solidarity group during a savings day meeting.
“For sure it has helped us a lot with immediate loans as well as inculcating a saving culture among us” She shares
She says in the past, when their sons and daughters sent them money they would consume it all.
However, with the inception of these groups, she says many grandmothers save some amount of money with the solidarity group.
A grandmother writes down notes on how to deal with children who do not want to open up. KITOVU MOBILE PHOTOS
Grandmothers with some of the crafts they make to get money for saving.