Case Studies
Ethiopia FCE: Social Environment of the Community
Case -1: Almaz, a 50-year-old widow and her 3 children and Aregash, a 55-year old widow and her two children of Cheffee SHG are living together with two other families. (Almaz Getahun with her husband and three chidlren and Muluwork, 20 years single girl) in a house of two rooms. They all cook in the same kitchen and jointly pay the rent of six Birr per month to Kebele. Almaz and Aregash have been living together since 13 years and the others have been living with them for six years. None of these families are relatives and all depend on firewood collecting, cleaning and selling of coffee waste, selling charcoal, etc for their living. They use the community toilet, pay 10 to 20 cents to buy 20 lts of water from rich houses and pay 5 Birr every month to a private person who has allowed them to take an electricity connection to their house.
Case -2: Elsa, a 12 year girl, daughter of Aynalem from Abren Endeg SHG, was studying in the 4th standard, but dropped out of school due to death of her father last year. Now she sells lemons in the market and earns two Birr per day. Aynalem's son Tekalign left school when he was in 7th standard and is now working as a conductor in a private vehicle. He is now 18 and earns around five Birr a day. Aynalem bakes and sells bread, which fetches her an earning of about three Birr a day.
1 Ethiopian Birr = 0.12 USD cents approx.
Ethiopia EHKC: Change in livelihood to SHG member family
Embet (45) from Feker SHG was displaced with her husband and 3 children during ethnic conflicts from the neighboring district in 1992. Unfortunately one child died in the shelter, where they lived for some years. The family survived on daily laborer work for many years. She joined the SHG due to her husband’s encouragement. She continued with the group and saved 50c per week from her work as a maid. One day Embet went home with 50 birr loan from the group. In consultation with her husband, they agreed to start making and selling enjera and bread. She then borrowed for the second time after repaying the first loan. They again consulted each other and decided to start started sheep fattening. This according to her husband was a major shift which he expressed as, “From kneeling, we now started to stand”. The third round of borrowing was used to buy a milking cow, which now has a calf and is expected to calve again within 2 months. The sixth borrowing which they are still repaying was used to buy 4 sheep. Embet now has 6 sheep; others were bought from profit. The family now has assets.
The first loan amounts taken by Embet were 50 birr twice, 150 twice, 200, and now 400 birr accordingly. Profits for the various businesses have been 100% on average.
She was proud to say “my children can now feed.” The family is also able send children to school i.e. they paid 90 and 70 birr for two children this year. Embet has also enrolled in grade 2 of the extension class (formal school). Her main motivation to start was so that she can sign her signature at the bank.
The couple said they now believe that it is hard work that will change their family situation. They want to diversify and expand their business. Embet now has great hope for the future.
Rwanda, AEE: Increased Social Security
Twivenenubukene SHG of Rubono community in Byumba Center, claims that all members used to drink and each one was spending a minimum of 200f to a maximum 800f per day on liqer. After joning SHG, they says, 16 members have left alcohol. “Saving is like a magnate, it pulls us from alcohol”, they claim. Dorathy, a women member of 25 year old, who lost 3 children out of six, says, when she was drunk, she never use to be careful about men, she used to fight with every one and was not taking care of her children . But now because of the desire to save to keep pace with others and awareness on HIV/AIDS, she reduced the intake, and confident that she comes out this vicious circle very soon. She says, she is careful with men now, sends all her children to school and along with other members, helps HIV/AIDS affected persons for digging land.
100 Rwandan Franc = 0.15 USD cents
Ethiopia EKHC: Social security for the displaced
Yezeshewal (more than 55 years old), from Tamagn SHG fled her home area with her two children (one was an infant) about 13 years ago due to war in the east. Her husband was killed in the war. She got robbed of all her belongings when she arrived in Nazareth. She was forced to give her then 14 year old son to live in one family, working as a laborer so that he could at least have some food and she would only be left with the burden of the infant. She has since been living as a daily laborer, lonely and isolated. Yezeshewal, also has committed to take care of an 11 year old boy (relative) from the distant rural. The boy has serious eye problems (almost blind). She was encouraged to join the SHG by a contact person from one SHG. By then she didn’t think she was worthy to participate in any such activities. She was overwhelmed by the acceptance she received when she finally agreed to join the group. She started to save. Convincing her to take a loan was another struggle. Then she borrowed 130 last year which she used to buy a sheep. The sheep has since multiplied to 6. She is keeping them for fattening to sell and start an ox fattening business. For Yezeshewal, the most appreciated benefit was the fact that now she belonged to a group that cared for her. She expressed these when she said “am better. My social bond is strong. I have a place to share my feelings”.
Ethiopia FCE: Change in Children’s Life
Case-1: Tadelech, a member of Hibret SHG dreams of retiring from her business and living in a comfortable house by another five years, as her son is doing teacher training course and there is all possibility of him becoming a teacher. After completion of 12th standard, he stopped his education, since he didn't score the required marks to get free education. Tadelech could not afford to pay for his education; he stayed at home for two years. After joining the SHG, Tadelech could invest more in her business (vegetable vending) and was able to earn more. As a result, her son joined a private teachers' training school last year. Tadelech is paying 100 Birr every month for his education. Her son says that in Ethiopia, there is scope for teachers and hence he is sure to get a job.
Ethiopia EKHC: Change in the life of orphan
Tigisti is an eleven year old orphan girl who was taken in by her aunt together with her 3 siblings when they lost both parents three years ago. She is in 5th grade. Her aunt sometimes shares what she learns from the SHG (e.g., the importance of saving). She also said that the life of the household had changed when her aunt took a loan and bought sheep for fattening and selling. She was happy that her aunt now has additional income. They have more frequent meals than when they depended only on the bean sorting income. Tigist was now very optimistic about her family’s future. She would like to become a doctor when she grows up, so that she can take care of her siblings and her aunt
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