South Sudan: Sowing Change in Evalina's Entrepreneurial Journey through saving

-

Evaline (middle) happily showing her savings with her savings group members/CARE International South Sudan

"Our participation in VSLA groups empowered us to secure loans and invest in a business. We have the option to borrow from the social fund in case of emergencies, such as medical treatment," confidently explains Evaline. Evalina Nakang, a 38-year-old woman from Ifwotu Payam, Torit County-Eastern Equatoria, witnessed positive changes in her economic and social circumstances as a beneficiary of the Fortifying Economic and Equality Diversification (FEED II) project, funded by the Government of Canada (GAC) and initiated in 2020. The project, implemented by CARE in a consortium led by World Vision, encompasses crucial agricultural support, Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), and GBV responses.

Before the project, Evalina struggled to make ends meet and constantly worried about providing for her family. Financial despair and a lack of income-generating skills characterized her situation. However, with the arrival of the FEED project in her hometown, Evaline's fortunes took a positive turn. Joining a VSLA group proved to be particularly beneficial for her, as she received training and guidance on savings and financial management. This group facilitated significant savings, and she now has plans to expand her new business of selling produce.

VSLA Groups, comprising 15-25 individual members from a community, are self-managed entities that regularly meet to save money in a secure environment, access small loans, and obtain emergency insurance. These groups empower participants to enhance access and control over resources, utilize collective power to overcome social and financial barriers and serve as an effective vehicle for economic justice and long-term resilience, especially for women.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DRC: Local Women group's advocacy influencing the health center to be built

-
Image
By Alice Bikuba, CARE DRC Reporting and Communication Officer. Fabiola Kambere in her field at Sake/CARE International in DRC. “I am more than a rural woman because through the Village Savings  Loan Association Network I take part in advocating for my community and results are visible.” - Fabiola, Faida Yetu VSLAN   Fabiola is a member of the Faida Yetu Network of Village Savings and Credit Associations (VSLAN) set up by CARE's Gender Equality Women Empowerment Program (GEWEP) in 2019. The Faida Yetu RAVEC, of which Fabiola is a member, is made up of women who advocate for the implementation of the joint plan to improve the health center (CS) in Kaduki (Sake). This advocacy led to the mobilization  of funds to purchase a plot and i nfluence the direction of funding from the health structure development program (PDSS) to the construction of a maternity building, a placenta pit, and a latrine at CS Kaduki.   These advocacy actions are carried out in the context of supporting the impl
Read more

Celebrating 10 Years of Serving My Community

-
Image
By Mawlid Mohamed Mawlid attending to a patient. CARE International It has been 10 years since I joined CARE International as a nutrition officer. Allah gave me a chance to support my vulnerable community in Somalia delivering humanitarian health and nutrition services.  Over these years, my career developed from being an officer, senior officer, nutrition supervisor, health, and nutrition manager. Now, I am in charge of the CARE Somalia Health Management Information System (HMIS). I have been privileged to work in the Garowe office, Bosaso, Burco, and Ceerigabo, offices. This has exposed me to different communities and the challenges they face in their contexts.  In my current position, I am responsible for ensuring the availability of quality data to make informed decisions. CARE Somalia works across more than 100 health facilities, and I ensure that we provide the most effective services and support to communities.  Mawlid checking through the files. CARE International. Being a huma
Read more

Sudan's Silent Suffering: Urgent Action Required to Remedy Worsening Situation

-
Image
CARE Sudan's Country Director Abdirahman visited a CARE-supported clinic. CARE International in Sudan. Abdirahman Ali, CARE Sudan's Country Director, issued this statement to draw urgent attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan. In his recent visit to Kassala, Abdirahman saw the plight of the internally displaced people, after fleeing conflict from Sinnar and Sinjah, with temporary homes and limited basic needs. Abdirahman was uniquely positioned to witness the unfolding humanitarian disaster firsthand while understanding the broader implications and needs.   "Muna, a 43-year-old woman displaced from Sennar, exemplifies the suffering we're witnessing," said Abdirahman Ali CARE Sudan's Country Director. "She along with her husband, who is an amputee, and five children and thousands of others fled the conflict with nothing. They now face unimaginable conditions – lack of food, clean water, and sanitation – in makeshift camps in overcrowded sc
Read more