The Mafinga Consolata Workers Association was founded in 2011. It comprises a non-teaching staff from Consolata teachers college and has 20 members. The association counts 12 women and 8 men. They range in age from 25 to 50. The main focus of the group is to create a Rotating Savings Credit Association (ROSCA), as each member realized that with his/her little income, alone he/she cannot do much. They need to put their resources together in order to achieve meaningful development.
Objectives of the Association
- Improve their living standards through mutual support.
- Alleviate poverty.
- Share risks.
- Meet their family obligations such as paying school fees for their kids, medical care etc.
- Improve their nutrition.
- Improve the fertility of their garden through the use of pig manure.
Activities
The members make a monthly contribution of TShs. 5000 (= 4 US Dollars), as a common fund. The common fund is used in times of a members difficulties and also to be loaned by members at a minimal interest rate. The members enjoy as well the advantage of pooling their resources together in order to carry out common projects. In two years of its existence, the members have been able to construct iron sheet roofed houses. In the area, many houses are mud-grass thatched houses.
Those who have children in school have been able to borrow at a minimal interest and pay school fees for their kids. Also in times of sickness, accidents, death, etc., the association is of great help to its members. It has saved them the burden of not having money at any time.
The Problem
The amount contributed every month by members is very little to meet all their needs. Some needs, such as school fees, are so pressing and affect everybody at the same time of the year that they make it hard for the association to meet such an obligation for everybody. The members felt a need to create a bigger pool of capital. This would allow them to borrow a more substantial amount.
Pig Farming
Therefore the members have come up with the idea of pig farming as a common project. The project will empower members towards broadening their livelihood portfolio. The market assessment shows that pig farming is appropriate for them. Some Reasons:
- It takes small space.
- Less labor intensive.
- Food availability within the area.
- Pigs reproduce fast.
- Ready market.
- High returns within short periods.
Amount Requested: USD 10,000
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