"The cruelty of chronic hunger is that it robs the world of its most precious resource–children." –Freedom from Hunger
Mali is one of the ten poorest countries in the world–more than half the population is considered poor. Days of 120 degree Fahrenheit are not uncommon as the Saharan desert swallows up a bit more of the country every year. On average, Malians live on about $270 per year–but thousands of women in Mali are working to change that. Through Credit with Education programs, they are building a better life for their families and communities. There are nearly 1500 credit associations in Mali with more than 35,000 members.
In most parts of the world, especially in developing countries, women are the primary caretakers of children. They carry the burden of providing for their families–raising food, earning an income, and ensuring that their children receive adequate medical care and schooling. However, most women do not have access to credit, one of the most essential tools for building a better life. In order to break the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty, women need access to credit and other resources–land, education, and skills. Freedom from Hunger is a partner agency of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) that is working to provide women with credit and the other resources they need to care for their families.
Through Freedom from Hunger, UMCOR supports Credit with Education programs in the West African countries of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, and Togo, and in the Latin American country of Bolivia. Credit with Education provides a two-fold program to very poor, rural women: micro-credit and non-formal adult health education. Women form Credit Associations in their villages with 15 to 45 people. At weekly meetings they participate in learning sessions and receive small loans. Each Credit with Education program is designed to reach "financial self-sufficiency," within five to seven years of starting up. The participants become "owners" of the program by financing its continuation through the interest they pay on their loans.
Women play a direct role in designing and managing their Credit Associations. Using guidelines provided by field agents, they establish their own rules and policies, and review, approve and guarantee each other’s loans. Their incomes increase, and they establish a social support system by successfully managing their loans and their Credit Associations. As their lives are transformed they become more confident and open to sharing and debating new knowledge and practices. Their increased confidence and openness enables them to more easily adopt new and improved health and nutrition practices.
With small cash loans women are able to create or expand their income-generating enterprises. The money they earn provides food, medicine and school supplies for their families. With health and nutrition information, women have been able to literally save the lives of their children. They learn how to manage and prevent diarrhea, about breast feeding, nutrition for infants and children, birth timing and spacing, immunization and HIV/AIDS prevention. They gain the assurance and the confidence that they can keep their children well-nourished and free of disease.
You may join in this life-giving ministry through your gifts to the following Advance projects:
Your donations to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) may be sent through a local United Methodist church, Annual Conference or by mailing the check directly to: UMCOR, Room #330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115. For credit card donations, call 800-554-8583. Please specify the Advance number. One hundred percent of your gift goes to helping people in the designated response.
"I used my loan to buy peanuts and make peanut butter. After my first (loan) cycle, I earned enough to buy a goat for my family. I am very proud of that." –A participant in the "Sabinyuman" (which means "you have our thanks") Credit Association in the village of Gouleri Were
"Because of the learning sessions on health we know how to better care for ourselves when we are pregnant, and that makes our babies healthier. It’s important to learn about nutrition for young children so that I can give good advice to my sons and daughters." –Soumba Koumare from the village of Tiongini
"I have used the money I saved to buy medicine for my child when she was sick. I have taken all my children to the health center to have them immunized. I have bought clothes for my children and books for their classes." –Fatima Koumare
Ouorokia Sow explained that her Credit Association is named "Bankadi" which means "understanding each other is great." She said, "We thought that by understanding each other and improving our faith in one another, we could work together better. In a way we have always worked together. But our Credit Association helps us in a new way."