Self-help Groups for 2000 poor women in S. Africa

Sinamandla, and it’s implementing Self-help Group (SHG) partners, have been trying to work with government departments locally, provincially and nationally over the past decade to show them the effectiveness of the SHG approach to alleviate poverty, especially in rural areas. The Department of Social Development have...

Many of the communities where SHGs exist have high rates of HIV and AIDS. During 2011 and 2012, thousands of SHG members received training on HIV and AIDS as they had expressed a desire to learn more so as to be better able to respond to the impact of HIV and AIDS. As a result, not only are the women more knowledgeable...

One of the main priorities of the Self-help Group (SHG) Programme is to improve the quantity and quality of food within a household – this means increasing the number of meals eaten each day or the size of the portions or the variety of vegetables and fruit available for children and adults in the homes of SHG...

Over the past two years, SHG members in dozens of groups have embarked on housing initiatives instead of waiting for government to build houses promised during election campaigns. The result is that hundreds of women have used SHG loans to build or renovate their home. Zamani SHG, formed in March 2011 in KZN, has 20...

Gladys Sekatana is a member of Ithabiseng SHG in Mpumalanga. Gladys had been selling snacks before joining her group; however, she was not making much profit. After joining the group and being trained in income-generation and small business development, she started taking note of the things that would sell well in her...

Sisonke Cluster Level Association (CLA) was formed in October 2010 and represents a cluster of seven Self-help Groups (SHGs), with over 100 SHG members, located near Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal. The CLA meets monthlyat a local crèche in KwaMaphumulo.  The area is rich in vegetation but some of the basic resources...

During January-March 2011, 503 vulnerable women joined a Self-help Group (SHG) in their community in South Africa. A total of 29 new SHGs were formed. These new SHG members represent over 2,700 household members who are currently living below the poverty-line. Each woman received up to three training modules during this...

During November - December 2010, 219 poor and vulnerable women joined a Self-help Group (SHG) in their community in South Africa. A total of  12 new SHGs were formed. These new SHG members represent over 1,100 household members who are currently living below the poverty-line. Each woman received two training modules...