Starting Up At Kitasengwa

Today we were off to Kitasengwa.  Kitasengwa is a new location for us.  The pastor had called Itiweni and then had written her a letter asking us to please come and see them.  He said they had formed a group of about 30 who really wanted to start a SACCOS.  To get to Kitasengwa we went down the hill and headed west towards Ihemi.  It was about an hour and twenty minute drive.  When we got to the turn-off one of the evangelists was waiting to show us the way.  He said they were afraid we might get lost and not come.  He ran along in front of the car so we could follow him through the brush to the pastor’s house.

When we got to the pastor’s house he and his wife were waiting for us.  They were very gracious and very happy we had come.  Three of the neighbor children were also there waiting – so Tom had to give them candy of course!

We were guest of the pastor for chai, at which time we discussed the reasons they want a SACCOS here.  According to the pastor their average income here is less than $300/year.  The farmers that make up his congregation (they are 90% farmers) have seen the CVP crops and now know what to do to increase their yields, but only a very few have been able to get the capital to do so.  He told us that there are some SACCOS in the area but they are all private and only will give loans for 1-3 months – and then at interest rates of 10%/month.  Some of his members have joined the three SACCOS in Ifundi (a neighboring village) and borrow from one to pay the other so that they have loans for 6-8 months.  This costs them 80% or so in interest and is just too risky.  Pride and BRAC are also in Ifundi and some have tried working with them, but once again the loans are for just a few months at 5-10% interest rates and just don’t work for the farmers.  Some of his members have relatives in one of the Iringa Hope SACCOS locations and have heard about how we work.  They have told the pastor they need to have one of our SACCOS here. 

We walked to the church after chai.  It was a 20 minute walk through the fields.  As we walked the Pastor pointed out a field with maize 6 feet tall.  “That man has relatives in another village that sent him the money to plant using the CVP methods.  We think he will make over 1,600,000 Tsc ($1,000) this year.”  He then pointed at a field across the road.  “That is like most of the member’s fields.  He may make 450,000 Tsc (less than $300) from it this year.”  The corn in that field was only a foot or so.

When we got to the church the members were still gathering.  Right next door is the old church where the children meet.  We could hear them repeating a counting lesson in English so we went to see.  Sandy tried to get them to count to twenty with her in Swahili – but they were all too taken with watching her (“a Wazungu” one said).  The teacher then had them start counting in English for us.  They did a great job – only missing one number (watch the video to see which one)!

By now the group had gathered.  There were 19 who had stopped work to come and talk with us.  We gave them a greeting and told them briefly what Iringa Hope was.  Then Itiweni told them about how to form a SACCOS, what our constitution said (there were many cheers as she told them that they owned the SACCOS), and how to form a SACCOS.  Her class lasted about two hours.  There were many questions and a lot of happy faces.  At one point the group broke out in song!  At the end they decided to vote on officers right then and start collecting money.

We invited the new officers to join us at our upcoming 4-day training session.  Tom told them that they would need to raise about 5,000,000 Tsc for capital.  He then told him that if they really wanted to have a SACCOS and would work to raise their funds he would work to raise 3,200,000 Tsc for them.  Hopefully they will be able to raise the 1,800,000 they need to get a SACCOS up and running at Kitasengwa.

Our final task following the meeting was to offer reading glasses to any who felt they needed them.  There were about a half dozen people who came forward, tried on the different strengths and received a pair.  After we finished handing them out, a woman came forward to tell us that she was an evangelist and had considered retiring from her position because she could no longer see to read her Bible.  Receiving these glasses would enable her to continue in her service.  It is humbling to know that such a small gesture on our part had made such a huge difference in her life. 

We had lunch with the pastor and his wife before driving back to Iringa.  Itiweni and her interns declined our offers to give them rides home.  I think they feel that us old folks needed to rest after the last three days of village visits.  (Tom gave them rides anyway.)

Tom gave the neighbor children candy.  Sandy and Margaret tried to get them to say something - they were too shy.

The Pastor and his wife were waiting to greet us.

Our two interns were taking notes today so they can help organize SACCOS in the future.

The pastor told us why they wanted an Iringa Hope SACCOS here.  Although we are here to help our members grow and improve their lives, we want to make sure that existing alternatives have been considered.

As we walked to church the pastor pointed out this filed of maize.  "This man will make 1,600,000 Tsc this year ($1,000)."  He was able to get a loan from relatives.

Across the road this member could not get a loan.  He will most likely make less than $300.

The new church is very pretty, but it is along walk.

The old church is used for classes for the children.

Sandy heard the children counting in English and went to see.

Sandy and Itiweni gave greetings.  Then Itiweni gave a short (2 hour) class on how to start a SACCOS.

Everyone was very attentive.

At one point the group broke into song.

They elected officers.  They will join our training program next month.

Sandy and Itiweni fitted people for glasses.  This evangelist asked to speak to us afterwards.  She said she was going to retire because she could no longer read the Bible.  She is so happy that now she will not have to!

We walked back to the Pastor's house and had lunch.

Then it was down the road and back to town.

Today We Were At Ilula

Today we went to Ilula.  Ilula is about a 45 minute drive down the road to Dar Es Salaam.  You turn off of the tarmac at the sign for the Ilula hospital and follow the dirt road up the hill. Instead of turning left into the hospital you make a right turn into the church parking lot.  I am always impressed by the view when I get to Ilula.  The view of the mountains and the valley below are truly beautiful.

We were last at Ilula in March of 2012.  At that time they were just starting to get organized so we gave them a constitution and a class on how to get started on a SACCOS.  Now, here we are a year later, and they have just now gotten back to us for another visit – we wonder what they have been doing.

We got out of the car and went over to the Pastor’s house.  He was just getting dressed for our meeting and suggested we went over to see the District Pastor (they are next door to each other).  As we were going over to the District Pastor’s house we met the new chairman.  It seems that the Ilula officers that were elected last year had gone to our training sessions, then gone back home and done nothing.  After asking them about getting started repeatedly the group that wanted a SACCOS decided to replace them and ask us to come and get them started again.  This is why we have not been able to get any information – there hasn’t been any to get.

As we sat in the Pastor’s house waiting to have chai I asked the new chairman to tell me why they wanted a SACCOS here; after all, there are other SACCOS in this area.  We were told that the SACCOS in the area all have major problems.  Some of them are government SACCOS.  These take in deposits, then go broke and everyone loses what they have.  Others are run by businessmen.  They charge 10% per month or more and will take all your savings if you are one day late.  There are also some who will only lend you for one or two months at a time.  The chairman said that he belongs to three SACCOS and wants to quit them all.  They all have big problems.  Iringa Hope SACCOS has a good reputation and they really want to get one started here.

We talked a bit about our rules and the focus of the SACCOS.  Only income producing loans are allowed.  A borrower must have two cosigners and must first save 1/3 of the amount, etc.  They told us they remembered these lessons from our last visit and liked them very much.

After chai we were given a tour of the hospital by the chairman of the SACCOS, who happens to be the administrator for the hospital.  Since our first visit to the hospital in 2001 the hospital has grown from a health center to a district hospital with over 90 employees.  The HIV/AIDS clinic now serves about 4,000 people.  The delivery area delivers about 10-20 babies a day.  There is a dental clinic.  And this fall the nursing school should finally open.

Back at the church the members of the SACCOS group had gathered.  We went in to meet with them.  Today there are about 30 members here.  This is about the same number as last year.  Tom asked if they were the same group.  Yes we were told, there have been a few changes but they are basically the same group as last year.  We asked the group why they had not done anything in the past year and they told us that they had been very frustrated since the leaders who we trained would not do anything and the rest were unsure of what to do.  Itiweni told them she had contacted both the leaders and the pastors to see if they needed more help and no one gave her any information.  There were many sheepish looks – but this is just the way of the Hehe – they do not like to give bad news.

We discussed what they need to do to form a SACCOS.  We explained that the SACCOS once formed belonged to them, not us or the university or the church.  This got lots of smiles and applause – it seems that one of the problems with the other SACCOS is that the members do the work and put in the money but never own anything.  We also told them they MUST attend training and learn about managing money, budgeting, etc.  Once again there were many smiles and applause – this is what they want to do.

Itiweni gave them a seminar on how to start a SACCOS.  There were lots of questions and many notes taken.  At the end they asked if it was OK if they continued the meeting without us.  They want to start collecting entrance fees, selling shares, etc.  They will be sending their new leaders to our training session next month.

We were planning on going to Luganga from here, but decided to cancel.  Itiweni had gotten a confusing call saying that the group that wanted to form a SACCOS had not talked to the rest of the parish and there was some dispute going on.  We really do not want to arbitrate anything – and we believe that a SACCOS really needs a strong group that wants to work to succeed – so we decided to tell them that they needed to come together and then we will come and work with them. 

We have learned to appreciate what a difference strong leadership makes to a community.  We hope that the SACCOS that Iringa Hope has established throughout the region will foster an atmosphere of community involvement where strong leaders will emerge.

The views form the church are lovely.

I think that Ilula has one of the prettiest locations.

Our new intern, Margaret, was with us today.  She is Masaai and has an accounting diplomas from Tumaini.

With Peter and Margaret our little group is now 5 - 6 when Brown is with us.

First we had chai and talked.

Then we went to look around the hospital.  It has really grown since we were first here in 2001.

The new nursing school will open this fall.

The student dorms have wonderful views of the mountains.

Sandy had to have her picture taken with the Pharmacist.  (Her sister is a Pharmacist.)   

Last week they selected new leaders.

Itiweni spent between 1.5 and 2 hours explaining how to start their SACCOS.

The new leaders took lots of notes.

There were lots of good questions.  This time we think they will work hard at their SACCOS.

When we got back into town we went over to the University to get ready for a meeting in March.

A Good Day At Pommern And Kitowo

We headed out today for a double header.  We went to Pommern and then at Kitowo on the way back.  To get to Pommern you drive down the hill from Iringa and take the turn off into Ipogoro.  From there you just keep on going another hour and a half.  When we arrived at Pommern the SACCOS officers and the Pastor were all out waiting for us.  We paused for a generous chai and hurried into the meeting room where the SACCOS members were waiting for us.

There were 25 members packed into a small meeting room.  They sang a song as we came in, then we had a prayer and the meeting started.  This SACCOS has grown from 50 last year to 60 this year.  They have grown their capital from 10,600,000 to 17,044,000 Tsc ($10,600).  This year they will make 59 loans to their members.  They have a 100% repayment rate and have a waiting list for loans.  

As Itiweni gave her lesson we talked quietly with the Pastor.  One question we had for the pastor concerned the church offerings during the years since they have had a SACCOS.  We were told that they had gone from 500,000 Tsc/month to over 1,500,000/month!  The Pastor told me that she knew of over 40 children being sent to secondary school.  The chairman thought it was much closer to 80 or so, which would be more in line with what we have discovered at other SACCOS locations.

We closed the meeting with another song, then did some interviews.  Rahab Mgata, 39, is married with 5 children.  She took out her first loan last year.  She borrowed 300,000 Tsc and planted peas.  She told us that after paying her loan she had a profit of 600,000 Tsc ($375).  She used her profit to pay her children’s school fees and added 30,000 Tsc to her savings.  She is hoping to get a loan for 500,000 Tsc this year.

Aurelia Msilu, 51, is married with 5 children.  She has been a member of this SACCOS for 3 years.  She also has borrowed to plant peas.  She used her profit to pay school fees and buy a pig.  She will fatten the pig and then sell it.  She is not sure what her final profit will be but has already made a profit of $250.

Fabi Kalolo is 38, married, and has 4 children.  He has been a SACCOS member for 2 years.  His last loan was for 500,000 Tsc ($315) to plant tomatoes on his 1.5 acres.  After repaying his loan he made a profit of 2,000,000 Tsc ($1,250).  He has used his profits to increase his savings, buy an ox to pull his plow, and improve his shamba (farm).

After finishing our interviews we said good bye and headed for our next stop, Kitowo.  Last year when we stopped at Kitowo they were just organizing.  We talked to them about what they needed to do, gave them a constitution, and Itiweni, our SACCOS coordinator has been visiting them this past year.  Today they are completing registration.  They have raised 6,400,000 Tsc ($4,000) on their own!  This is the most we have ever seen a community raise in one year.

When we got to Kitowo they had us go right into their meeting.  Our friend Malila, the coop officer, was already there finishing their paperwork with them.  He greeted us and we joined the meeting.  This SACCOS has 57 members.  There were 28 present today – enough to make a quorum and complete the paperwork.  Malila told us that he is going to Dodoma (the capital) later this week.  He expects to get four of our SACCOS registered next week – Kitowo, Ilambilole, Mgama, and Pommern!

We each made some remarks, then Peter and Itiweni both gave classes.  Itiweni got lots of questions.  We went to do a few interviews while Malila finished the forms for registration.  This SACCOS has not yet made any loans.  As a result the members we interviewed could only tell us about their plans.  Still, they had lots of details about what they hoped to do, how much it would cost, and how much profit they expected to make.  A very well organized and informed group of people.

Following the meeting we were served lunch.  It was a long day – and we still had work to do.  We started the day about 8 AM and returned to Iringa about 6 – just in time to do a little paperwork, grab something to eat, and get ready to go again tomorrow!

The road was busy on the way to Pommern this morning.

The SACCOS officers and the Pastor were there to greet us.

We had a generous chai., then off to the meeting.

When we went into the room we were met with a song!

Sandy handed out pens.

People took lots of notes.

Aurelia Msilu, 51, is married with 5 children.  She has been a member of this SACCOS for 3 years.  She also has borrowed to plant peas.

Rahab Mgata, 39, is married with 5 children.  She took out her first loan last year.  She borrowed 300,000 Tsc and planted peas.

Fabi Kalolo is 38, married, and has 4 children.  He has been a SACCOS member for 2 years.  His last loan was for 500,000 Tsc ($315) to plant tomatoes on his 1.5 acres. 

The old church at Pommern is very pretty.

But it was time to head back down the road to Kitowo.

So we quickly fitted some glasses and were off.

The church at Kitowo was already full when we got there.

There was a quorum of the SACCOS there to finish their registration papers.

Our friend Malila was busy helping them finish up.

Itiweni gave a class.  There were lots of questions.

Afterwards we talked to a few members.

Both Immanuel Mbingamno (below) and Erika Mkini (above) had good, well thought out plans for their loans.  This SACCOS is very well organized.

Before we left they signed the final papers for registering their SACCOS.

Sandy gave some of the members glasses and we were off!

Sunday At Ihemi

Today we went out to Ihemi for church.  It is a pleasant 45 minute drive down the hill and then south west out of town.  When we got to Ihemi we were met by Askali, the district Pastor, and Mama Mbembe (the widow of the first Pastor we met at Ihemi).  We are always happy to see Mama, she is such a nice lady and we have known her for over 12 years now.  The Pastor had expected us since we sent a message to Ihemi with Onesmo Nzulumi, a member of the Iringa Hope loan committee.  After a few minutes of exchanging pleasantries we went to visit the Sunday school. 

Visiting the Sunday school is a favorite thing for us to do.  The children recite their lessons, sing songs, and seem to enjoy Sunday school.  Today there were about 60 children there.  We sat and listened for awhile, then the teacher asked if there was anything we wanted to tell the children.  Since we have been giving Easter eggs to the Ihemi Sunday school children since 2005, we realized that the current classes had no recollection of how the tradition was started.   Once again we told them about the frozen winters in the northern hemisphere,  how the return of spring with baby birds hatching from eggs reminds us of new life, and how Easter eggs remind us of the new life we have in Christ.    Getting an Easter egg is a big deal here.  On Easter Sunday over 150 children will show up to get an egg at Ihemi!  Pastor has said it's a great evangelism tool.

Tom's bag of candy was given to the Sunday school teacher to be handed out after class was over. 

Back at the Pastor’s home folks were gathering for chai (today there was coffee for Tom - someone remembered!).  We talked with many old friends, exchanging information about things at Ihemi and with our families.  One thing we did not know – Ihemi started to build a “seminary” or secondary school last year.  They are close to finishing one long row of buildings and hope that they can start classes next year.

It was after 10:00 by the time we headed over to the church service.  The service was great, as always .  There were motion choirs, various other choirs, announcements, and introductions.  Tom gave the sermon today.  He talked about why we give, a topic that fits well with the Thursday evening series he is giving on Radio Furaha.  

We all danced outside for the auction.  Sandy bid on a bag of sweet potatoes for Tom (because he won't eat them).  Then Tom bid higher and says it is “for Pastor.”  Everyone usually stops bidding and waits for the Wazungus to decide who wins.  Today Tom won so the Pastor got some sweet potatoes.

After the auction Pastor Askali suggested we go visit the school site.  The school is being built across the highway and about two miles down a dirt road.  As we drove we asked why they were building so far away.  They explained that the government requires you to have at least 20 acres of land and the property close to the road was too expensive.  They have 60 acres at this location.

We took a look at the building.  The walls are up and they say they have made the doors and windows and have them in storage.  They need to get the money for the roof and floors and then they will finish this building and start the school.  It seemed a little sparse to start with this, but one of the Ihemi board members on the project is the headmaster of the local school, so perhaps he has more planned than we think.

We went back to the Pastors home for lunch.  By the time we left it was 3:00. Nelson Nyalusi rode along with us back to town.   Nelson is an Ihemi student who is studying chemical engineering in Dar Es Salaam.  He will stay with friends in Ipogoro until Tuesday when he takes the bus back to school.  We also gave our friend Aloyce a ride back to his house.  We greeted his children who were home from boarding school, then we headed for Iringa.  A long day, but a good one.

Sandy was greeted by Mama Mbembe.

Sandy explained to the Sunday school children the meaning of Easter eggs.

The Sunday school children sang a song.

We went over to the service with Pastor Askali.  Tom was preaching today.

When the youth choir was singing this little boy came running up to try to get his sister to sit with him.

The youth choir sang as the people danced out of the church.

Outside a choir was singing.

The people gathered for the auction of the gifts of crops.  Sandy bid on some sweet potatoes for Tom (he hates them).  Tom bought them for the Pastor.

This little boy was an Obama fan.

We went back over to the Pastor's house.

Pastor Askali wanted to show us the new school building so away we went.

It is a large building located about 2 miles form the main road.

We went back and has lunch with many long time friends.

Our friend Aloyce and Nelson Nyalusi were going to ride with us on the way back.

We hated to leave, but it was getting late.