This blog post was written by Megan Henderson, our Senior Communications & Events Officer.
Natalana speaks to a Group.
Five Talents isn’t giving women power. The women we work with already have power - our programmes simply help them, and their communities, realise it. Empowerment is a process. Empowerment is building confidence. Empowerment is discussing women’s rights and the barriers to achieving them. Empowerment is helping women realise their potential. Empowerment is encouraging women that they control their own life. Five Talents is not giving women power - we’re supporting women to build a stronger future. In doing that many women become literate, start their own businesses and are elected as Savings Group leaders. They build their confidence, realise their voice and recognise their potential, themselves.
Across our Kenyan programmes, 73% of participants were able to cope with emergencies and 82% increased their household expenditure - clear signs that Savings Groups are improving financial futures. In the same survey, 84% of female members reported improved household relationships too. Our Groups are a mechanism for change in individuals, households and whole communities.
Natalana in South Sudan is the mother of five boys. She was her husband’s fifth wife which left no money to pay for her sons’ school fees. Her family barely had enough to eat. To support her family Natalana started a little shop. She was illiterate and did not have training or business experience, so she struggled to make a profit. Then - she joined a Five Talents Literacy & Savings Group.
“Before I knew it, I had been given my first loan for $75 from the Community Bank. You can’t imagine my excitement! So I used that loan to buy a small freezer so that I could sell cold soft drinks, which as you might imagine are very popular in South Sudan. I have since taken out and repaid three additional loans and now have two businesses – a restaurant and a household goods shop.
But it was two years ago, when the most amazing thing happened – I was named chairlady of the village bank. A bank with 565 members. The bank where I took out my first-ever loan. And, the first bank in our entire county.
As chairlady, I addressed the entire community at the bank opening. I told everyone how important it is to educate girls and through my speaking, everyone could see what a woman can do!”
Natalana’s profits paid for all five of her sons to attend school. Natalana chose to join her Literacy & Savings Groups to provide more for her family. Training and saving in her Group achieved that. But Natalana’s empowerment came from within.