SELF HELP GROUP: STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES AND SAVING LIVES

Recently, our U.S. staff had the opportunity to meet with the Hujent Lenam Women’s Self Help Group (SHG). Hujent Lenam means “We work together and grow up”. The group members shared one example of how the group supports its members: A member of the group was going into labor and was unable to walk several miles to the hospital. She had no money for transportation or blankets; all she had was a change of clothes. The members of the group came together to buy her blankets and pay for a bajaj (rickshaw) to transport her to the hospital.

Through their shared funds, the group has elevated community healthcare by providing goods and transportation to the hospital to members in labor and any member experiencing a medical emergency. Their commitment and support has brought the home delivery rate in their community to zero – an amazing accomplishment. WEEMA’s Self Help Group trainings have equipped these women with financial skills that allow them to create multiple savings programs. The group now has three savings accounts – basic savings, social savings, and special savings.

Here is how it works: basic savings – each member contributes each week, the money in this account gains interest, and can be used for micro loans; special savings – provides the group members with money for their special holiday festivities; and social savings – helps each member of the group during good and bad times, providing funds to the members who are getting married, giving birth, or have funeral expenses. Between all three accounts, the women in the Hujent Lenam SHG have collectively saved over 60,000 birr ($2,080 USD) since July 2015.