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June 2021
Mali
In an exciting new venture, Just Small Change will this year be supporting a microcredit project in South Mali. Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, where 43% of the 20 million population live in extreme poverty. Rapid population growth and climate change pose major risks for the country’s agriculture and food security. By enabling very poor women to raise goats, the project will improve livelihoods and help to reclaim impoverished land for food production.
Read more detail on Where we work
Kenya
In Kisumu, business training restarted after a 13 month suspension due to coronavirus restrictions. 20 ladies attended the four day initial training course from 15-18 March and received their first loans the following week (see photos left) Trading conditions are poor, but the ladies are optimistic and are ably supported by our staff, Roselyne and Emily.
Roselyne and Emily have been very busy over the past year helping existing clients. Until recently, Kisumu had few coronavirus cases and fatalities, but the restrictions in force (overnight curfew, closure of schools, universities and of many businesses, throwing many out of work) affected most of our clients very badly. To make matters worse, the City authorities began removing the informal markets and trading pitches used by most of our clients. Many have had to relocate their businesses, and some have had their stalls destroyed. Roselyne and Emily are working hard to support clients through community groups and also individually.
Sadly, since May Kisumu has been badly affected by a new wave of coronavirus infections, and many clients or their family members are ill. Few medical facilities are available, and those that are must be paid for; very difficult times for the communities where we work.
Thank you for your continued support and interest as our clients fight to overcome multiple challenges.
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2020: training was suspended because of Coronavirus restrictions. Existing clients who repaid loans were able to borrow again.
Autumn 2019: 26 new clients were trained in October and another of similar size took place from 2-6 December.
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| New clients trained October 2019 |
New clients trained December 2019 |
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October 2019: a short trip to Kisumu. In over 30 meetings with individual clients, we saw and heard how the project has strengthened their incomes and households. We also saw the great impact of the group leader training has had, in making groups more effective. Here are some members of the newly trained Molem group at their weekly meeting, where they track their loan repayments and run a group savings club, as well as discussing their businesses and enjoying social time together. (P.s. this trip was funded by the trustees, not from charity funds:-))
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May/August 2019: 27 new clients received training in May, and a further 26 in August.
A two day leadership training course was also held in August for 50 group leaders.
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| Group leaders training August 2019 |
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| New clients trained in May 2019 |
New clients trained in August 2019 |
June 2019: We published our second Impact Report. It's available to read or download from our Reports page.
May 2019: A 5 day training course was delivered to 34 new clients. They received their first loans in July.
January 2019: Our new Project Coordinator, Ms Roselyne Okanda, joined the project.
Training courses in May and July 2018: the participants with their completion certificates.
Training courses June and July 2017: the participants, with their training certificates.
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MICROCREDIT - how it works:
Business training, small loans and ongoing mentoring help our clients to build businesses, support their families, educate their children and strengthen their communities. Improved incomes enable clients to save, reducing their vulnerability and allowing them to plan for a better future. Finally, as loans are repaid, the capital can be re-loaned to another aspiring entrepreneur, so your donation goes on working.
Clients from the same area meet regularly as a group to discuss the progress of their businesses, operate savings clubs and socialise. Lasting and supportive friendships are formed.
In 2019, 2 day training for group leaders (chair, secretary and treasurer) has been introduced, to boost the effectiveness of the groups.
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WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
LOW COST: Working with UK volunteers and local partner charities in the field keeps our costs to an absolute minimum, ensuring your donation has maximum impact in transforming lives in developing countries. All donations, including any gift aid received, is sent overseas to fund our projects.
DIRECT LINK: Our close links with local partners means we can provide feedback to our UK donors on the progress of businesses & improvement in the lives of people and also enables excellent accountability regarding the use of the funds we send to our partners in the field. We know exactly how your donations are being spent.
BUSINESS TRAINING AND SUPPORT: Most of our clients have very little experience of handling money or of business. We provide training and mentoring to help them gain these skills. A five day training course for all new clients covers topics such as costing, pricing, stock management, customer relations, credit control, record keeping, managing money, the importance of saving and understanding their rights and responsibilities. Methods include role plays and games so that it is accessible to women with no formal education. Ongoing mentoring is provided once the business is up and running too, via regular visits from the programme coordinator and the credit officer.
LOCAL FIELD PARTNERS: We work through local field partners who are already closely involved with marginalized communities. They have professional social workers and healthcare staff who work with our project coordinator to identify potential clients.This ensures your donation reaches the most needy as efficiently as possible, and has maximum impact.
VISION AND MOTIVATION
We believe that with suitable training and support, microfinance has the power to unlock the personal and economic potential of the poorest communities, allowing them the opportunity to achieve a life free from poverty, with dignity and purpose.
As Christians, we are responding to Jesus Christ’s call to love and serve the poor. We serve all people regardless of race, faith, ethnicity and gender.
WHERE WE WORK
Sikasso Region, South Mali
Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world, where 43% of the 20 million population live in extreme poverty. This poverty is concentrated in the rural areas of South Mali. High population growth rates and climate change pose major risks for the country’s agriculture sector and food security. Just Small Change is working with villagers to increase food production and income by using environmentally friendly methods to improve impoverished land.
Kisumu County, Kenya.
In Kenya, over one person in three lives in absolute poverty (less than $1.90 a day) and the country is home to one of the world’s harshest HIV and AIDS epidemics. With an estimated population of just over one million, Kisumu County has one of Kenya’s highest poverty levels and worst set of health indicators. Approximately 20% of the population is HIV positive. Female life expectancy is 58 years. 60% of the population live in absolute poverty. There are 35,000 orphans, mostly cared for in relations' or neighbours' families, and 32,000 children engaged in child labour because their carers cannot afford school fees. Just Small Change works with individual households to raise incomes so that our clients can meet their essential household needs, pay school fees and save a little to provide more security.
