By Phil Donnell | Funding manager
At the centre of Sinamandla’s work is the Self-help group (SHG) project which promotes self-help and mutual help at the individual, group and community levels. As 2017 draws to a close we share two inspiring stories of an SHG member and an SHG who are helping themselves and their community.
Mam’ Gumede (not her real name) of Sizamokuhle SHG in Swayimane, KZN, has been an SHG member since February 2012.She cares for four household members and her family were mainly living on social grants before she joined her group. To date she has borrowed 5 SHG loans worth R5,000 (almost $400) from her group towards her income-generating activities. She has a poultry house and farms around 1 100 chickens every 6 weeks. She also farms vegetables and seasonal crops like sweet potatoes, amadumbe and maize on her family land. In addition to this land she has an annual lease on another 2 acres of land which she uses for farming activities along with six other SHG farmers. Mam’ Gumede supplies her chicken and vegetable produce to local supermarkets and learning institutions in nearby towns. She has influenced her group members and community to embrace agriculture as a livelihood strategy and many SHG farmers in her community look to her as their mentor.
Inceboyenkosi SHG in Swayimane, KZN, was formed in May 2010. The group members are engaged in various individual economic activities such as tourism and agriculture activities and they jointly run two social projects; a youth academy and a vulnerable children’s project. In 2015 Inceboyenkosi registered as a Non-Profit Company and has since managed around R450,000 for its social projects. All the members of the group earn monthly stipends for the services they provide in their social projects. During 2017 Inceboyenkosi has been working with 100 orphaned and vulnerable children and through local partnerships has provided full school uniforms to 260 children in 12 primary schools and 3 high schools in Swayimane over the past three years. Inceboyenkosi also provides different lifeskills training activities for the children and care support skills to their caregivers. Inceboyenkosi SHG is supported by Zimele Wethu Foundation, a Sinamandla partner.
Many thanks for your interest in and support of Sinamandla and its work with women in SHGs. Please would you consider a donation to Sinamandla in 2017 which will be greatly appreciated!
You can subscribe to our E-newsletter via the Sinamandla website, like us on Facebook at sinamandlaselfhelpgroup or follow us on Twitter @sinamandlashg. Our SHG book, “Moving ourselves out of poverty”, is available for $40.00 including postage – to order directly from Sinamandla email phil@sinamandla.org.za
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