The women describe how now that they have money and control over their money, their family lives and relationships with their husbands have improved.
All the women are well educated even though most like Betty have 4 children or more.
They continue to train in literacy and some of their children are now staying in school longer than they did because of the new opportunities afforded by the income they are generating.
Also they tell of one family that dropped out of the current loan cycle because one of their dependants developed HIV/AIDS and the mother had to take time off to care for them. Unfortunately the person died and now the mother will take part in the next loan cycle.
Seeing the women's groups in action was one of the most powerful aspects of the study tour to the Uganda Epicenters. It's amazing what they have done - some of them in their 30's and others in their 60's. Improving their homes, building new brick homes, learning how to garden effectively so they can grow more crops, developing joint ventures like a piggery. And a major increase in self-esteem - how nice it was to have "money of their own" - earned by taking their loans (average $40) and growing the investment.
Almost all of these farm women looked ELEGANT - dressed beautifully, bright crisp clean clothes with lots of style - beautiful hair dressing, etc. Inspirational to see people doing this under their conditions of no running water, no electricity, no plumbing, etc.
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Posted by: Page Morahan | 23 May 2005 at 20:11