Visiting at Isimani

We started our day today with a visit to Pastor Msigwa, the pastor at the Diocese who coordinates with Bega Kwa Bega.  We try to keep him updated on what Iringa Hope has done and is planning to do.  We arrived early so we had some time to visit with friends while we waited for Msigwa to arrive.  It is surprising how many people we know here.

As we went over our annual report with Msigwa, he expressed his amazement that our program was so big and he was pleased to learn that the SACCOS members donated such a large portion of the DIRA budget.  I think that since we work all over the Diocese, people do not realize how big an impact Iringa Hope has; it is either that or we just are too quiet.

After leaving the Diocese we headed over to the University to pick up Itiweni and Peter.  Itiweni was just back from a funeral for her uncle.  He was an older man and his death was not unexpected. However, his death and funeral happened at a time when one of her sisters is hospitalized, awaiting an operation, and her mother has been ill.  Illness and death seem to be ever present in so many of the families we have come to know.

Isimani is located close to the Dodoma road, about an hour’s drive from Iringa.  It is a relatively new SACCOS, having been started in 2013.  They have made money every year since.  This last year they had a profit of 3,000,000 TZS (about $1,700).  They are well run by a small, round lady who runs things with a firm hand.  We always enjoy seeing her and this year was no exception.

There are currently 69 members in this SACCOS.  They told us that they had over 20 people who wanted to join, but since they do not have enough capital for their current members they were reluctant to let them join.  We suggested that they reconsider and allow more to join – but we stressed that it is their decision.

There was good attendance at the general meeting; about 60% today.  This is not uncommon for this SACCOS, which has had some very enthusiastic members from their beginning. They always have lots of questions and we were not disappointed on this either.  First Tom explained the way that Iringa Hope Joint SACCOS works.  We discussed this with them last year, but we thought they needed to hear some of it again.  Itiweni gave a session on loan fees and their uses, what interest rates should be, etc.  Peter followed up and again had lots of questions.  The members got busy discussing interest rates, repayment schedules, how to plan your loans, etc.  Everyone was busy gesturing and talking – we loved it! 

As the meeting broke up Sandy went to interview two members.  The first one was Rehema Ngoda, aged 48, married with four children and two grandchildren – all of whom she and her husband are supporting.  Rehema has been a member of this SACCOS since it started.  Last season she borrowed 900,000 TZS (about $500) and planted her five acres in sesame.  Sesame is a new crop here, but she had experimented with it the prior year and found it sold for a good price.  When she harvested her crop she got 32 bags of seeds which sold for 210,000 per bag.  After paying off her loan and expenses (she had hired two helpers who were paid after the harvest and had to pay fees to ship and sell her crop) she had earned $1,500,000 TZS (or $1,000).  With her earnings she tithed, sent all four of her children to school (three to secondary and one to primary), and bought some goats and piglets to raise.  After all of this she still had enough left to increase her savings and start on a new house for her family – very impressive!  She has once again borrowed 900,000 TZS and planted sesame.  She says that the prices are still high so she is hopeful that she will have another good year.

As Rehema was leaving Simon John Vidoga sat down to talk.  Simon is 51, married, and has 4 children.  He is currently supporting 6 people (7 including himself).  He has also been a member of this SACCOS since it began.  Over the past three years Simon has taken out three loans.  His second loan was for 900,000 TZS ($600) to plant maize.  The maize crop last year was OK, but the prices were 50% lower than the year before so his profit was lower than he had expected.  Still, he did manage to earn about $200 for the year from his loan.  He used part of his profits to send his daughter to secondary school and his other two children to primary school.  He also added a little to his savings and used the rest for his family.  This year he borrowed 1,200,000 TZS ($680).  He is using part of his loan to plant maize and the rest to buy some lumber and tools so he can do work as a carpenter.  He told us that this year he will sell ½ of his crop as “fresh corn” and ½ as mature corn.  This will help steady his income since lately fresh corn (immature corn cobs) is selling for more, while normally mature corn gets a better price.

When the interviews were over we headed down the road towards Ilambilioe.  

When we first got to Isimani we went into the office ot talk to the officers.

About 60% of the members had come to this meeting.  The sun was hot so they sat in the shade.

Sandy interviewed members while the rest discussed a variety of issues.

There was a very lively discussion going on.  Can you imagine a group of people sitting around discussing loan rates, terms, conditions, how to do collections, etc?

 The first one was Rehema Ngoda, age 48, married with four children and two grandchildren – all of whom she and her husband are supporting. 

As Rehema was leaving Simon John Vidoga sat down to talk.  Simon is 51, married, and has 4 children.  He is currently supporting 6 people (7 including himself).