Like the old African adage goes that seeing is believing, a delegation of members from 8 village savings and loan scheme association in Busia Uganda has been in Kenya on a bench marking mission thanks to EWAD and the Work No Child’s Business (WNCB) project in Uganda.
The delegation on a learning mission have started from Busia Kenya county head offices received by Francis Obanda the community development officer flanked by other senior officials.
The Uganda based VSLA members have started their day with a lively interaction for the members of Busia cross boarder women group savings associations, followed by Nyota funs Salam club, and finally Buhayo friends self help group which all started as small village savings and loan scheme associations but have beaten all odds to grow into powerful SACCOS with savings of over 20 millions and benefiting over 200 people each.
The exchange visit is an opportunity created by EWAD and its funding partners WNCB for the VSLA members from Uganda to learn the best practices, lessons in the administration of VSLAs with hope that the members transfer such knowledge obtained back home to accelerate the growth of their savings groups.
“This is an eye opener for the members of our supported VSLA groups. We want them to do better and their continued growth is our pleasure and hope” said Shallon Ninsiima the EWAD program manager in her speech during the engagements”
Throughout the learning engagements with Kenya VSLA, speaker after speakers have emphases trust, savings, proper records keeping and honest among VSLAs as key drivers to prosperity and growth of savings groups.
According to Juma Rosemary and auditor of Buhayo friends self help group, a good savings mentality for a bigger objective not for luxury is a strong pillar to VSLA growth.
“When you save well you get a good loan and a good loan help one to grow. We save because we want a better future tomorrow” She said.
