Activities

2016

• In order to strengthen the already established framework, Amani women group was added EUR 2 000 in 2016. This was a loan from ActionInvest with 10 % interest. The plan was to use part of the money to purchase a piece of land.  The members will farm or rent out the land. The returns were to be injected back to the groups bank account and to eventually pay back the loan.  This would considerably increase their total income. Consequently, the amount of money borrowed would increase.

2022

• Ann arrange with bi-annual RISE accounting training. Collins with bi-annual team-building, knowledge sharing and transparency sessions with RISE members. Millicent with bi-annual SfC sessions building a clear Road-map for Amani Women Group.

Outcome

• Formation of the table banking group. The group was formed in 2016, at the time of receiving the loan from ActionInvest. The group started with 15 members. However, the number of members has reduced to 12. Reason being, they moved away from the village. Nevertheless, the group leader indicated that there are community members seeking to become members of the group. On average 8 members normally turn up for group meetings. Friendship and sharing ideas motivate the group activities. The respondents strongly agreed that they were motivated to form the group for the need to save and improve their livelihoods in general.
• The chairperson provides supportive leadership, presides over regular group meetings, recruits and retains members in the group and makes sure that all group members are active and involved. The treasurer mainly collects contributions, prepares budgets, and reports financial information for the group. The role of the secretary is to make necessary arrangements for group meeting, take down minutes during meetings and follow up participants when necessary.
• Members of Amani women group indicated that the group has guidelines and regulations that guide behaviour, have ground rules on operations, opinions and social interactions and mechanisms to deal with conflicts in case they arise. In case of any conflicts there are set mechanisms on how to deal with them. Also, members work as a team and this results to success and achievements in the group. The group also has a shared vision. However, the group leader moderately agreed that all members are committed to the activities of the group.
• Overall, the group experienced an increase in total revenue between 2016 and 2020, after initiating collaboration with HR&S in 2016, when 2000 euros was transferred to Amani Women Group account. The group used part of the money
• Borrowed from Action Invest to buy a plot (1/4 an acre), in November, 2017. Members agreed to till the land and plant potatoes with an aim of putting them on the market to earn profit. However, the weather was not favourable, the harvest was not good. The group thus incurred losses that year. They now lease the land to members and non-members who pay a total of 3000ksh only during planting seasons. 
• Members pointed to various advantages with the project in that all the money belongs to the group, members savings are not taken away but instead used for loaning. This has led to an increasing pool of money.
• Amani women group has a perfectly adequate record keeping system. The group has a separate bank account. They have an orderly file of the group’s finances in form of cash book. Amani therefore indicated that they keep record of group finances. The bank account is managed by three people who must foresee any transaction before it is effected. The group also keeps records like individual passbook, minute books, attendance books and savings/loan book.
• The maximum amount of loan one can borrow from the group kitty is 130,000ksh which is the largest loan amount a member has ever taken. The least amount one can borrow from the group is 20,000ksh. Repayment schedules used in the group are regular instalments. It easy for members to get loans from the group as long as they contribute. Loans are given depending on the amount one has contributed. In the last one year, only 2 members had to extend their repayment period with an amount totalling 60, 000ksh. The average delinquency is thus low, establishing higher chances of success of the table banking project.
• Within a period of 4 years, Amani women members had grown rapidly and members had started borrowing and utilizing money from the kitty. One member indicated she had borrowed and used the loan to do crop farming. “I bought seeds and fertilizer, planted and got profit out of the produce”. Two members indicated to have used the loan to buy land.  Another member indicated to have used the loan to build his own house. “I was renting a house but now I live in my own house”. However, no one had used the loan to develop or start any type of business.
• In ensuring socio-economic empowerment, members indicated that the project had built trust and empowerment which is aimed at benefiting the society.

• Also, members were quick to mention that their saving ability had been enhanced. This shows that the group achieved benefits enhanced their trust and friendship which they felt safe to remain in the group.