Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A grassroots initiative is helping women in a Juba neighborhood achieve financial independence through savings and training, enabling them to start businesses and build homes.
The Grassroots Women Network organization recently trained more than 20 women from the Hai Baraka area on the importance of saving and managing their finances. The program aims to reduce the women’s dependence on spouses or relatives, organizers said.
“We always encourage women to engage in saving groups to help them facilitate their own programs,” said Sunday Mogga, executive director of the Grassroots Women Network.
Speaking to the Peace Women Group on Saturday, Mogga said saving helps women understand their rights and make informed decisions for themselves and their families. The training also included education on women’s land rights.
The group operates a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization, commonly known as a SACCO or Sanduk-Sanduk. The collective savings pool allows members to take out small loans to address personal emergencies or invest in income-generating activities.
“This SACCO is good because when women have problems, they take a loan from it,” Mogga said. She added that some participants have invested in businesses, education and even built houses.
Juan Cecily, a member of the Peace Women Group, said the initiative enabled her to construct a house, which she now leases to support her family.
“Up to now we’re in the group and it’s very important. If you’re in a problem, they will help you,” Cecily said. “One of the importance of this group is that when you’re sick the members gather together and help you.”
As a single mother, Cecily said the extra income has been critical. “If it wasn’t for this plot and the house I built, I don’t know how I would have paid my children’s school fees,” she said.
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