Widows’ Micro-Enterprise

Self-esteem and camaraderie have soared amongst the women now that they have started their own micro-enterprise and banking system. The micro-enterprise project is a plastic bag recycling project in which the women crochet shopping bags into beautiful purses, clutches, totes, swim-bags, computer cases and shopping bags. We now have 50 women who have learned and perfected this craft and are now making approximately 60 bags in a week. 70% of the bag price goes to the woman who made the bag, 15% to the bank and 15% is a “forced saving” which accumulates over the month and is given as a “salary” to the woman at the end of the month. The women have also perfected the art of bracelet making which also brings income into the group. This project has transformed their lives by enabling them to feed, school, and care for their children.

The women are truly the core of the Chikumbuso Project, since November 2006 the widows have been able to give out over 45 loans and help pay the salary of the teachers and the night guard. These women are also in charge of preparing the school’s lunch, they lead literacy classes for women within the community and they help with the grandmother’s project.  This project also helps the single mothers, who have recently begun sewing lining into each handmade bag, making it even more unique. 

In response to the huge success of the plastic bag recycling project, a group of 4 core women was formed to keep track of the accounting and financial assets of the widow’s project.  These 4 women are being trained in financial literacy so that they will be able to handle all aspects of the bag production and buying process.