We set out this morning with our guides from Fonkoze, Linda and her assistant Helaina. First, we went to a Fonkoze center meeting with the Ti Kredi group. Ti Kredi is a group of women who are just beginning the microfinance process with Fonkoze; some of them have just graduated from Fonkoze's CLM program (In Creole: Chemen Lavi Miyo which means road to a better life). The CLM program is for women living in extreme poverty who have not started the loan process. Fonkoze gives them the materials necessary to build a sturdy house (cement and a tin roof), assets (either a pregnant chicken or a goat), and sets them up with a case manager who meets with them each week to do health and literacy trainings.
At this center meeting, we visited with Ti Kredi (In Creole: Small Credit), which is the next step up from CLM. These women receive small loans and pay them back at each meeting; at the meeting they also have the option to put money into a savings account, which many people previously did not have access to. A center consists of 5 groups of 5 women, and a credit agent who leads the meetings. Not only do the credit agents collect money, they also teach the women about savvy business practices through an interactive workbook. The women read stories and then act them out as skits to show that they understand the material.
At
the Ti Kredi meeting we attended there were 13 women present. Usually there are
up to 30but many were missing because they were selling their goods at the
market place. Meetings can be held in any place that is convenient for the
women, and they are often held under mango trees. The meeting was held in a
cock-fighting ring.
The
women at this meeting ranged from being in their early 20s to late 70s. The
credit agents are often men. Having a strong and encouraging man in their lives
helps teach women that men can be supportive, which is important because many
men leave or mistreat their wives. The credit agents tell them that they are
capable to support themselves and that they do not have to be dependent on
their husband. These credit agents spend 3 months in training, including
psychological training to fully support these women. They also come from the
immediate areas, so they can understand the specific culture of the area.
Towards
the end of the meeting, a female credit agent, Wislande, came to visit. She
pumped up the group by leading them in songs and dance. One of the songs
involved a Wozo plant, a plant that always grows back after it is cut. In the
song they compare themselves to the plant, saying that when they are cut, they
will always grow back. After the women sang to us, we shared a song with them: Amazing
Grace.
After
the meeting ended we went to visit clients from the CLM program to see where
and how they live. On the way to the houses I heard President Martelly singing
on the radio. It was very surreal to hear the music of the President, even
though I knew he was a musician.
The
first woman we visited was almost finished with the CLM program. We walked up
the hill to her small, two room house to be greeted with a smiles and hugs. She
was so happy to see us and to show us all that the CLM program did for her. She
rebuilt her house with stones, cement, and a tin roof. She also was given two
pregnant goats. Over the time she has been in the program, her assets grew to 10
baby goats, lots of chickens and even a cow. She said before Fonkoze, she had
to serve her children stewed mango leaves from the tree behind her house for
dinner. Now she is able to cook and provide real food for her family. Her
credit agent taught her how to read and write. She proudly showed us how she
wrote her name. Her pride and smiles were contagious, and we were all excited
for her future.
Next
we visited women who had just started the CLM program. These women are
considered the ultra-poor; they live in mud and stick houses with dirt floors
and banana leaves for a roof. They had absolutely nothing, and their only
thought surrounded what they were going to feed their children the next day.Thankfully we knew that Fonkoze would help the woman build
her house before the rainy season.
