Ilambilole - A Widow and A CVP Demo Plot

We planned to leave Iringa at 9:00.  First we had a few errands to run – dropping off a bill at the procurement office at Tumaini and then going over to make a payment at the CRDB bank.  Walking into the bank it seemed that Itiweni knows everyone who works here.  As a result we were ushered to the front of the line and helped immediately.

On returning to our vehicle we discovered that it wouldn’t start.  In fact, it wouldn’t even turn over or make a noise.  We called Denis Ngede (he talks care of the car for us) and he sent someone over.  After looking things over it was discovered that the wiring was bad – so we needed another ride for the day.

While this was going on Itiweni called Brown to tell him we would be late.  He told us that he and his wife had just been in a motorcycle accident and he had injured his side and arm.  Fortunately mama (who is pregnant) is OK.

So we sat in front of the bank waiting for Denis to send another car and driver.  While sitting there there was a steady stream of people that Itiweni or we knew who stopped to say “Hi” and ask what we were doing.  Soon we are joined by a parking officer – are we illegally parked as well???  She was friendly enough and understood the problem so we paid her a parking fee and she went on her way.

After an hour we got another car and a driver and left for Ilambilole.  The drive is about 1 hour from Iringa going north on the road to Dodoma.  This of course meant that we were an hour late in getting there – but no problem TIA (this is Africa).  And of course, FIRST we have tea with the pastor.

On the way to meeting with the SACCOS officers Tom spied some school children.  It’s candy time!!!  Tom started to hand out candy and kids just kept appearing.  Good thing that the kids quit coming before the candy ran out!  (Tom started with 100 suckers and ended with a hand full.)

After the bad news of yesterday, it was a pleasure to discover that the Ilambilole SACCOS is very well run.  We met with the officers and the board members of the SACCOS in their office (about 10 people over all).  About half of them were women.  They had all of their books, their bank statement, and records up to date and waiting for us.  When I asked them about how they dealt with delinquent loans they immediately pulled out their constitution and showed me – what a great way to start!!

This SACCOS has 62 members – 32 men and 30 women.  They proudly told me that they started with a $4,700 gift from their partner Our Saviors Lutheran in Hastings.  In fact they kept mentioning Our Saviors so often it seemed that they should be paid for advertising (seriously, they are very proud of their connection – they have named their SACCOS “Our Saviors Ilambilole SACCOS”).

Looking over the records I noted that last year they made 64 loans and had 3 that had not been paid back in full.  They told me that these 3 members had been sick and that they had rescheduled their loans to give them another 6 months.  I asked if they were charging interest for the whole time and they looked at me strangely – of course they will pay all of the interest!  Are they paying now?  Their co-guarantors have started to pay and they will collect it all!

After meeting the officers and board members, we went to the church and held the general meeting.  As usual Itiweni’s talk was very well received with lots of questions.  I noticed that many people had brought copies of the constitution and had good questions about their rights and obligations – good work!

After the meeting we talked to some members about their loans.  Talking with Pendo Mtoji, 36, we found that he and his wife had 4 children in primary school.  He had taken a loan out for $200 and bought some chickens (41).  He built a house for them and was selling eggs.  “30-40 eggs a day at $0.20 each with a $.03 profit” he told us (in Swahili of course).  After paying off his loan this money was set aside to buy school uniforms and supplies (about $330/year).  His second loan was for $420.  He is using this to farm his corn using the CVP demonstration plot approach.

Our second visit was with Jema Kevike, 48.  She has five children, one in secondary school and the rest gone elsewhere to work.  She took out a loan for $170.  She farmed corn using the CVP methods and made a profit (after repaying her loan) of $250.  This she used to buy some goats to milk.  With the profit from the goats she has now started to build a house.  Her second loan is for $270 to raise more corn.  She plans to use the profits from this crop to pay school fees and work on her house.

The last visit was with Beata Mgimba, 42.  This widow has 3 children; one in teacher’s college and two in secondary school.  She has been sending them to school with a combination of scholarships (thanks Our Saviors) and what money she can make off of her work in the village and her ¾ acre of land.  Everyone agreed that she does the best job in the village of following the CVP teachings.  Her first loan was for $60.  Her profit on her crop was $120! (She bought 2 pigs and helped her children pay their school fees.)  Her second loan is for $80 to buy more pigs and plant another crop.  Very impressive!

Everyone involved with the SACCOS here was very happy and appreciative of their opportunity to get loans.  They currently have 17 members waiting to get loans and need another $3,000 in capital.  I would say that any money sent here is well sent indeed!!

After an hour's delay we were on our way.  The traffic jam added a little additional delay.

When we got to Ilambilole we were greeted by an old friend.  Pastor Doricus Kimbavala was there to say, "Welcome!"

The board members and officers were about 50-50 men and women.

There were lots of good questions and many referred to their copies of the constitution of the SACCOS!

Tom gave suckers to all of the children.

Pendo Mtoji bought some chickens and is selling eggs.

Mama Kevike bought some goats and is building a house.

Widow Mgimba is helping to send her 3 children to get an education (one is in teacher's college and two are in secondary school).