Empowerment through Table banking

In 2020, despite the global shutdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the women continued to engage in Table banking as a means to empower themselves and enable them to harness their personal capacity by mobilizing the resources they have available for their own benefit and empowerment. To date, this activity has seen the capital base within the various groups increase, allowing of them to engage in a wide range of personal activities like borrowing to pay for their children’s school fees and professional activities like farming.

Below is a highlight of some of the groups andthe monthly activities they have engaged in.

Nguba Bidii Women Group

Through table banking, this group managed to raise Ksh 16,285 (USD 120) which they used as capital input for their farming project, post the potato farming seminar. Despite their diligence and hard work, the crop failed as a result of unexpected heavy downpours. However, the group did not give up and chose to regroup and to improve on their knowledge and skills, as well as acquiring the right quality of potato seed varieties as earlier advised. To date, the members remained positive and continue to contribute Ksh.100 (USD 1) every month towards their table banking.

Upendo Sisters Women Group

With only 6 members in the group, they have managed to grow their capital base faster than any other group. Within 6 months they have managed to raise Ksh 20,680 (USD 150) as each member contributed Ksh 500 (USD 4) as their monthly premiums. As a group, the members then decided to use part of the capital raised to acquire the right quality of potato seeds for them to farm.

Sumi-Peto Women Group

This group, made up of 12 mothers ranked second in regard to the amount raised, with a total of Ksh 14,220 (USD 100). Like their counterparts in other groups, they planned to use part of what they had raised to acquire the certified potato seeds.

Shamaa Women’s Group

Initially the women of this group had planned to acquire a piece of land to enable them to formalize their farming efforts. In an effort to achieve this goal, they raised Ksh. 57,600 (USD 415.00) in partnership with Neloshan and applied for a loan from the county government, however this was deemed unsuccessful. They therefore chose to they invest their money and acquire shares in a national Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) which functions similarly to a Credit Union.

In conclusion, the members appreciated Neloshan’s ongoing commitment to support and empower them as they worked towards a better tomorrow for the next generation. In addition, they looked forward to group gatherings held every month, where they spent time dreaming, encouraging, sharing and updating each other on any progress they had made.