Changed lives—Stories of hope and inspiration
Staring into the future without fear
Had it not been for Solidarity House CBO’s table banking program Ms Purity Makandi, now 30, would not have recalled how it feels to smile. Her mother died in 1991 and changed her life forever-and, most likely, her 10-year-old son would have been headed to the same road were it not for this program. Now Makandi has a reason to smile. Although her past memories have brought her so much suffering, now she has a lot to look forward to--Solidarity House CBO has changed her life for the better. She says that she is sure her son will not end up being semi-illiterate like herself. The table banking services program has brought back her lost hope, which had been lost through her past misfortunes. “I’m now sure of getting money every month. The worry I used to have due my son’s school fees is now gone. I can now sleep well at night and plan for tomorrow with confidence unlike before.”
Makandi had to discontinue her primary education to take care of her brother’s two sons when her mother died. The boys were aged 2 and 3. She assumed the role of her mother who used to look after them when they were abandoned by their mother. Besides fending for herself, she had an extra burden of taking care of her two nephews.
For survival, Makandi got into a relationship with a man who promised to marry her. But he left her upon realizing that she was pregnant. Makandi is now a single mother. “I’m not scared like before. With or without the man I will be able to support my boy.” And as she emphasizes her statement with a smile she adds: “this is all thanks to Solidarity House and the table banking program. I now can stare into my future without fear!”
My business, my power
Motivated by easy access to funds at her group every month, Faith Kagwiria, a mother of two, began a small business. And although the business premise is a small wooden kiosk which also serves as her home, she can afford to smile to her renewed dream of becoming a successful business woman. “Unlike other microfinance institutions where you are not guaranteed of money upon repaying a loan, table banking gives you the assurance you need to start a business as you will have access to money every month,” Kagwiria says about the table banking services program. “I think I will realizing my long time dream of succeeding in business. Once this happens, I will harness the opportunity I need to compete in today’s world.”
Like most women in Kenya, Kagwiria is the breadwinner in her extended family. Besides her husband and children, other members of her family look to her for support. “My family’s situation makes me to work very hard. I know I will succeed and take care of my needy family members someday.” Sadly, most men spend their time drinking liquor. Kagwiria’s husband is such a man. It is against this backdrop that Solidarity House CBO endeavors to promote table banking services program in order to economically empower especially women to better assume their bread-winning role in the family.
Getting Involved
(a) Donor
1. As a donor, you can make our “girl effect education” scheme for poverty eradication a dream come true through your generous contribution. Every year, when the fund produces a 50% growth, numerous girls are bound to benefit from this scheme for a lengthy period of time because the money you give as donation stays ‘alive’ and only what it produces goes away to the beneficiary each time.
2. Also, as a donor you can help the extremely poor groups to get to the first rung of development ladder by boosting their shares. In some areas in Kenya, people go to bed hungry for many days (according to the statistics released by the Poverty Eradication Commission of Kenya, poverty stood at 46% in 2005/2006- and this result had not anticipated the post election violence of 2008). With donor funds, nearly 17 million people living in poverty in Kenya can be given hope through the table banking scheme. And just like the “girl effect education” scheme, the money will stay ‘alive’ to continue boosting shares for the in-coming poor groups who are unable to transact business for lack of capital-money on the table for borrowing.
(b) If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention!
If you do not have material means to support the noble fight, your voice counts. Join other Global Citizens around the world and support various campaigns that seek to eradicate poverty and defend human rights worldwide. Such organizations include Amnesty International, Oxfam, and United Nations Foundation.
DONATIONS CAN BE DEPOSITED TO:
SOLIDARITY HOUSE C.B.O, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK KENYA LIMITED, MERU BRANCH, ACCOUNT NO. 0102002078500, SWIFT CODE: SCBLKENX
CONTACT:
P.O. Box 1578-60200, Meru, Kenya. Tel: (254) 711385722,
E-mail: info.solidarityhouse@gmail.com
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