This blog post was written by Megan Henderson, our Communications & Events Manager.
Floretta speaks in front of her Group.
This year is the 12th year that Five Talents will participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, and thanks to you, last year was the biggest total raised for Five Talents ever! The Challenge is a match funding campaign where every donation to participating charities is doubled. It is a huge boost to our end of year fundraising, and means we can start the new year with a new project ready to go in January. We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of all our supporters in the campaign. Last year through the Big Give Christmas Appeal your giving raised a staggering £108,616 to expand the programme in Burundi!
Currently, there are 9,936 Savings Group members in Burundi, over 2,000 more members than there were last year. This growth is thanks to your generosity. We’d like to introduce you to a member of the programme in Burundi, Floretta.
“I’m a widow. When my husband died, it felt like the world had ended for me. When I got any money from the family, I would drink because I was so depressed. I became a drunkard. That's when I was asked to join the Group - I was surprised to be asked.
At first I didn’t want to join because I was worried that I only had enough money to drink, but wouldn’t have any money to save. But more of my neighbours came to me and suggested that I join the Group. They really encouraged me. So, I did.
We started the Group, and started saving together. I decided it was better to save, and I gave up drinking so that I could save more.
I had a business selling avocados, bananas and peanuts. After a year, I took out a loan and bought a goat and chickens. The goats multiplied and my income grew. After a year we shared-out [our savings and interest]. At that time, my house was broken, and the roof was leaking. So from my share-out I was able to repair my home. I also sold goats, so that I could buy iron sheets for a proper roof and shelter. Now my home is very good. I thank God for that. I also thank God that I gave up drinking.
I would like to give support to help others going through what I did. I also have a dream to have a bigger shop to improve my income.”
With support from her Savings Group, Floretta was empowered to transform her life and her home. Thank you for being so generous to our Big Give Christmas Appeal, your support means our partners can reach even more women & men like Floretta. If you’d like to learn more about this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge please click here.