Self Help Groups (SHG)
The SHG programme targets mothers and grandmothers who are often heads of households due to the death of a parent from the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Mothers and grandmothers are more likely to pass on economic benefits to their children and grandchildren, which make them the natural focus for SHG Programme.
The SHGs self-help approach involves 3 phases concentrating on social, economic and political empowerment. This approach provides an environment of growth and enables the participants to step up from impoverished surroundings towards a life of dignity. The ZIMELE staff provides training, guidance and continual mentoring throughout each of the following 3 PHASES:
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Zimele currently oversees SHGs consisting of 10-20 women each. We work with women in small groups to provide safe, intimate environments for them to build their self-esteem and confidence and establish a strong support network. In this phase, women develop critical life and business skills so that they can start their own businesses and generate income to support their family's needs. The start-up and operational costs of these businesses are funded through a structured savings and loans program where each women contributes a set amount to their group's fund on a weekly basis. As the fund grows, women are able to take out loans to purchase materials for their businesses - i.e., seeds, tools, and equipment for agriculture businesses; fabric, sewing tools, and packaging materials for craft businesses; and stock items for streetside stores. All loans must be paid back at the end of each month with 10% interest to ensure the fund continues to grow. | |
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Zimele currently oversees 9 CLAs consisting of 2 representatives from 6-8 SHGs. CLAs meet monthly and their primary responsibilities are to strengthen and create new SHGs and develop larger scale business and social service projects that benefit their entire communities. For example, CLAs develop agriculture and craft hubs to strengthen their local economy and reduce the need for community members to pay costly transportation fees to buy or sell goods in urban centers. CLAs also initiate social service projects that address critical needs such as home-based care for HIV/AIDS victims and childcare services for orphaned and vulnerable children. These projects are supported by a CLA savings fund that each participating SHG contributes to monthly. Each CLA decides how to distribute loans to support different projects, and all loans must be paid back with interest to ensure the fund continues to grow. |
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Zimele is working towards creating its first Federation by 2015. The Federation will consist of 2 representatives from 8-10 CLAs and will act as a conglomerate to advocate for economic, social, and healthcare reforms on behalf of their communities. This will include, for example, advocating for women's rights, better access to HIV/AIDS clinical care in their communities, and better schooling for children. The Federation will also be responsible for providing financial support to SHGs and CLAs by creating partnerships with banks to create low-interest, revolving loans for businesses, and fundraising and government support for social service projects. The end goal for the Federation is to take over the management of SHG and CLA programs from Zimele as part of our long-term exit strategy in our current communities. |
As is shown by the diagram, the SHGs (Self Help Groups), combine in groups of ten to form a CLA (Cluster Level Association). In turn, approximately eight of the CLAs are combined in any given area to form a Federation. The roles at each of these levels are outlined below:
- SHGs – providing support and training to those in the community around them
- CLAs – provide support and resources to the SHGs involved. Forms itself into a Community Based Organization to enable greater leverage of funds, resources and skills
- Federation – provide support to the CLAs involved. This is a powerful body for higher level lobbying and advocacy, representing the needs and issues affecting the CLAs.
