fruits of labor
today was another full day in swayimane, mostly following up with several SHGs. audrey’s son, mulumbua(?) – who is the most charming little boy, came along for the ride and accompanied our visits, which made the day so much more special 
we met with the ‘bambanani’ SHG to discuss their current progress, as well as any immediate challenges
they face. an essential part of their group business is selling ‘daily’ soap products and vodacom cell phone minutes. i was informed that their former bookwriter had left the group in order to devote more time and attention to her personal business needs. to help resolve this loss, the group managed to elect 2 volunteers who would agree to learn how to write and follow strict procedures for managing their group savings under zimele’s guidance. through the spirit of accountability, one particular woman expressed her desire to contribute to this responsibility, but also her inability to do so due to her need for reading glasses. this is an example of some of the day to day struggles that can hamper group progress and the need for innovative solutions to address them.
we then moved on to discuss next steps and aspirations. the women were particularly interested in purchasing chairs and tables that could be used as a group business in order to help facilitate local village meetings as well as special events such as funerals and worship services. however, their main challenge was not affordability, but finding a way to transport these chairs and tables into their own homes – a frustrating example of the daily logistical challenges these women face. we are currently working on providing additional transportation services to help these women achieve their goals.
on the way to our next destination, we stopped by a nearby spaza (roadside stand) – owned and operated by an SHG member, where we purchased some snacks and drinks to help us get through the day. here i am buying a brand new oral-b toothbrush!
the second group we visited was the same group of NGO members and community facilitators that we met with the previous day, training under zimele principles to assess best practices, explore new funding strategies, stimulate innovative projects, streamline internal operations, and mobilize their members. they are currently in their 3rd year of working together with zimele, and although progress has been slow and steady, it can take up to 5 yrs to help these organizations move towards autonomy and self-sufficiency. members of the zimele leadership team are working hard to provide the necessary resources and training to help these NGOs adopt similar principles of self-reliance.
‘kusakusa’, a group of about 6-7 women, helped facilitate this meeting by providing delicious meals through the use of their catering service, an additional income generator for their savings group. this groups was also being organized to help teach other group members specific gardening techniques (carrots and cabbage) that they have acquired over the years through the assistance of a local farmer. due to the growth potential from obtaining these skills, there is an increasing interest to help spread and broaden these skills to the rest of the community.
shortly after, we visited another woman who cultivates a garden outside her home which grows cabbage, beans, tubers, maize, and pumpkin. she is also a diabetic, and as a result of the lack of accessible treatment and care, the need for her to grow and sustain these kinds of vegetables as an essential part of her diet is extremely important. however, some of the most important and immediate challenges aren’t being met due to financial reasons, such as hiring a tractor to till the land and obtaining manure to enrich the soil. this is yet another challenge that calls for a creative solution.
what was most profound however, was that despite her limitations and financial struggles, she was graciously willing to give away 2 of her beautiful pumpkins – an offer that really exemplifies the spirit of giving and relationship building. i will happily pass these pumpkins on to Miranda, who according to Max, can make some of the most delicious pumpkin fritters!
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to be able to witness such joy and life that pour from the hearts of the Zulu women is incredibly encouraging and uplifting. one can really see the strength of bonds and relationship at work where accountability and encouragement are the cornerstones of holding this community together and empowering its members. these are the seeds that are being planted daily, and it is a deeply humbling experience for me to see with my own eyes that joy, passion and dignity are all gifts of God that can prevail in even the most dire circumstances.
today was another full day in swayimane, mostly following up with several SHGs…..
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