Success Stories
Overview of Projects
Midlands AIDS Caring Organisation has been working in 5 wards of Mberengwa district for over 3 years. The total population for the 5 wards is 19872 (8935 males & 10937 females).The organisation implements interventions that seek to improve women access to income at household level through community trainings income savings & lending, linking community women groups to financial institutions and vocational skills enhancement of youths.
To achieve greater gender equality Midlands AIDS Caring Organisation facilitates to influence change on some harmful gender norms which negatively affect women’s participation in income generating activities (IGAs). Creating greater gender equality space for women creates equal opportunities for women to meaningfully engage in economic empowerment other than committing them to socially ascribed unpaid care work.
Stories of Change
The Case of 3 Women of Makuwerere Ward
Having been inspired by other 4 fellow group members of Effort ISAL group now 3 more members also managed to open retail shops in the same business centre of Makuwerere ward which is 147km from Zvishavane and 132km from Mberengwa Administrative Centre. Members of the group Continue paying R100 as subscriptions and they funded their income generating activities using loans from their monthly savings.
Effort group grew from strength to strength as their savings increased through the subscriptions and the loan repayments from members. Three more members of the group opened retail shops. They started operating grocery shops as from September 2021.The combined startup capital borrowed from Effort Group Savings by these members is R12 800.00.The shops are well stocked even though fellow business persons are citing acute foreign currency shortages, the members of Effort Group are cushioned by their ever growing savings, which they are accessing every time to boost their stocks and wares.
Case of Mavis Gumbo After Receiving SPM Training
She joined Income Savings in 2010, but explained that she saw reasonable growth after joining Effort group in 2017.She had been into sewing of uniforms, but with monthly loans from Effort group she managed to renovate her shop and boost her uniform production. The sale of her groceries and school uniforms create a strong financial surplus such that she managed to buy ex Japanese Toyota Fun Cargo. This has made management of her business easier since Makuwerere business Centre is 147km away from Zvishavane town where most of the orders for business and banking is conducted and 54 km from Mataga Growth point. Now she just drives at her own pace and even assists other group members with transport whenever she drives out.
Mavis has an average earning from her business of $450 per month as of December 2021. She says she is now ready to offer internship to youth in clothing and garment technology since her two clothing machines are in prime working condition after serving them through her monthly borrowings from Effort Group.
The Case of Dunda ISAL
It all started in 2018 for the women of Dunda Ward 28, ISAL groups were formed as a way of trying to improve the economic status of those who joined the groups. Through ISAL groups women manage to build their own houses and also own a number of labour serving assets such as wheelbarrows, scotch cart and solar systems. More than 15 women now own cattle, goats and run successful poultry projects.
Testimonies of managing basic requirements at household level by ISAL group members is always song of the day and also paying school fees of secondary, high school and without much struggling. An average of R1800 is being recorded by end of each year.
The Case of Emmanuel Dube
Mr Dube received ISAL training in the year 2018 and joined a group of other 15 women. He acquired a loan from the group to start his Income Generating Activity (IGA). He started the business of buying and selling maize given that the area of Mberengwa is always affected by droughts and not receiving enough drought relief from government. The business was doing very well despite inflation and Covid 19 restrictions and in the year 2019 he was trained by MACO on Selection Planning and Management (SPM). After receiving SPM Training he acquired another loan from the group and he managed to purchase a grinding mill which is now used by the whole community. His IGA did not stop now he is buying maize and selling mealie-meal.
In a space of 12 months Mr Dube managed to purchase a pick-up Mazda B1600 truck which is being used to transport his business stock.Mr Dube’s business inspired other group members as he managed to revamp his life and it changed the life of his family, two daughters are now at Mnene High School (boarding) and one at Chinhoyi University of Technology. The man now is doing Poultry project, all this changed his economic background and the man is currently helping more than 5 upcoming groups to do the same.
The Case of Chipo Chipapiro
All started from a small ISAL group of 14 members and a weekly subscription of R50. Chipo managed to open a flea-market at Mataga growth point and her flea market is currently one of the largest flea markets with all type of clothes, shoes and a number of small electric gadgets needed by the community on day to day service. With the announcement of level 4 lockdown she is now making orders twice a month. All this puts a huge change in her life .
Chipo gave credit to the trainings she received from the organisation but most importantly SPM changed the way she was conducting business and the ways she utilised business opportunities. Selection Planning and Management model inspired her to continue pursuing other two IGAs i.e. Poultry and Gardening. Chipo is inspiring other club members even with her smallest IGA of distributing eggs at the growth point. More than 10 crates are being distributed per day.