Hope for Women in Kitwe
Report on Zambia trip for Charis, from Marianne and Robert, April 29, 2017
As reported earlier, this project was abandoned. But it did have some positive spinoffs. Several women joined other GROW groups (like Village Banking), and are continuing to benefit economically and improve their small businesses.
PLAEP, who monitors the GROW groups in Kitwe, is excited at the growth of most of these groups. As we were there, they were facilitating meetings between some of the GROW members and the Ministry of Agriculture to develop a cassava milling project, which has good income earning potential.
We see an increased tendency of groups to focus on earning potentials with as little donor money as possible; to be more self-sufficient. Zambia’s economy is really struggling, yet we witness a tough resilience and determination in its people. It is an honor for us to give a boost to those who are already working hard to help themselves!
After a longer period of mentoring a group of sex workers in the copper city of Kitwe, Zambia, a local group of women implemented a plan to help the women find alternate forms of income to support themselves. A non-profit organization, PLAEP that is experienced with women’s groups, was employed to teach a three-day workshop with subjects such as increasing self-worth, health issues specific to their occupation, and entrepreneurship. The organisation then facilitated weekly GROW meetings. GROW is a community savings project. It was hoped the women would gain new perspective and find the means to earn a living outside the sex trade. What works with almost all other women’s groups didn’t work with the sex workers. Many women failed to bring savings, defaulted on their loans and left the group. One year later the group was dissolved. The women continue to come for mentoring, which is probably the most important aspect of the project.