And the rains came (at Ifunda)

Yesterday, after we finished at Mgama, we went over to Ifunda, which meant a short drive back to the main highway and heading a little further southwest.  Ifunda is right off the highway, so no worries of bad roads getting there.  The sky was very dark and rain clouds were looming as we got there. 

Arriving at Ifunda we found that the members were just gathering.  We talked briefly with the chairman, who then opened the meeting.  Ifunda is a new SACCOS.  It was just starting when we visited them with their partner parish, House of Prayer, last year.  At that time they had 34 people in the group that wanted to get started.  Now they have 60 members, but they are not yet registered.  Peter explained that they have been very slow to get their paperwork done.  He thinks that it is due to concerns over the prior failed SACCOS here in town.  It has now been finished and is at the office of the co-op officer waiting to be registered.

We started the meeting with Tom’s remarks on Iringa Hope Joint SACCOS followed by Sandy’s talk.  Both Peter and Tom wore their new shirts given to them by Kitasengwa.  Peter joked that now no one could tell them apart (we think that they still can).  Peter gave a class on the basics of membership.  He explained their constitution, their rights, and their obligations.  As he was doing this the rains came.

At first it was a gentle rain.  Then it got harder and harder.  Pretty soon we really couldn’t hear anything.  The chairman asked if we should stop and wait, but the members wanted to keep talking.  There were only 23 of the members here but they were very focused on what Peter was saying.  He finished up about the time the rain quieted down, and asked for questions from the group.

Their biggest worry here is that Iringa Hope will be like the government SACCOS.  They were reassured that with Iringa Hope, everything belongs to the members.  Many people in Ifunda have been stung by a government SACCOS and a private SACCOS.  Both of these took in savings then folded up with everyone’s money.

Some of the members who had visited with other Iringa Hope SACCOS members started speaking up.  One woman began talking loudly.  We didn’t understand what she was saying, but she sounded angry!  Peter was laughing so we decided it couldn’t be too bad.  He explained that she was scolding the other members and asking them why it is that Ihemi and Mgama have managed to get a SACCOS and Ifunda hasn’t.  She said that this is the best thing to happen here in a long time and they need to get going NOW.  Peter went on to say that others in the group were also scolding the chairman, pastor, and others for being so slow.  They all want to have their SACCOS working as soon as possible.

Peter told us that he had been to Ifunda three times this last year and every time there were only two or three members meeting with him.  He said that there have been delays in getting things registered because they have been slow to do their paperwork. He smiled and said that the type of enthusiasm he saw at this meeting is what he has been looking for.  He thinks that the members are going to push and things will start happening now.  It will be good to see what has happened when we come next year.

Back down the road to the pavement.  Lots of foot traffic along the way.

Looking out from Ifunda it looks like rain.

There was lots of interest in Peter's explanations.

As it started to rain it got harder and harder to hear.

Tom and Peter wore their shirts from Kitasengwa.  Peter thought that people would have trouble telling them apart.  What do you think?

When it started to pour it got nearly impossible to hear.  But everyone wanted Peter to continue - so he did!

In order to be heard he had to walk into the aisle and everyone moved closer.