Salima women empowered through VSL
Women in traditional authorities (T/As) Maganga and Khombedza in Salima boast of improved economic standing following a project implemented in their areas.
The project is being implemented by Women’s Legal Resource Centre (Wolrec) using what is termed as the star-circle approach. It boosts women’s economic empowerment through income generation using village savings and loans (VSL) groups.
Speaking after monitoring progress on Thursday, Wolrec programmes officer Gift Mauluka said he was impressed with what the women have so far achieved.
He also hailed chiefs in the area for coming up with by-laws that have complemented the VSL initiative in tackling gender-based violence in their communities.
“What we have seen today is impressive because people are able to engage in various businesses, hence improving their lives.
“Besides that, the maintenance of the boreholes, which they push, indicates that people are able to demand social services from duty bearers,” said Mauluka.
Programmes coordinator for IM Development Partners, financiers of the initiative, Catherine Samu, urged the women to start adopting family planning methods to limit the number of children they can have.
She said this would help them to fully participate in economic activities, hence increasing income at household level.
One of the star circle approach beneficiaries, Litanes Mbonongo, said she has bought two goats, two bags of fertiliser and has been paying school fees for her children using earnings from a business initiated with money from the VSL.
