Kenya
Background
Kenya, a country known for its beauty and wildlife, is experiencing declining economic growth, falling agricultural production, and high unemployment, all leading to an unprecedented increase in poverty. More than 50 percent of Kenyans live below the poverty line. This crisis is leaving many families vulnerable both physically and spiritually as they struggle with increasing hopelessness and destitution. Tribal conflicts during the latest election have added to Kenya's difficulties.
Community Description
The town of Thika, about 20 miles north of Nairobi, is a microcosm of what has happened in this country. It has experienced a dramatic increase in population in the past 10 years, leading to more families living in the streets, a higher incidence of HIV/AIDS, and heightened insecurity. It is the administrative center for the Thika District, which has a total population of 900,000 people. One-third of this population lives in the urban area. The Upper Zone of the District has a cool climate with rich volcanic soils that are well suited to coffee growing, tea planting, and pineapple fields. The lower zone has little rainfall and most people live on subsistence farming. Thika was once a major industrial centre, but in recent years many of the large plants have closed leaving many out of work and destitute. It is the entrepreneurs and small business owners who have the challenge of rebuilding the local economy.
Project Description
In 2004 the Anglican Diocese of Thika created the Thika Community Development Trust (TCDT) as a registered NGO. The Trust operates a savings and credit programme that is empowering poor entrepreneurs, a majority of whom are women, to create new jobs and sustain small businesses. The Trust works with groups known as “Trust Groups” with around 16 members each. Each group meets weekly to save. By the end of December 2009, there were 24 groups and 1,929 members. They have saved a total of £205,825 over 4 years. The Trust staff have helped each group to open a secure bank account. Many Groups are now loaning their capital to their members as small loans to help boost their individual businesses – such as tailoring, kiosks, bicycle repairs. They have a 100% repayment record. This is a remarkable achievement, based on adapting a locally trusted model with good governance.
Goals of Thika Community Development Trust
In 2010 the Thika Community Development Trust plans to:
- Establish 10 new Trust Groups and gain 1,000 new clients.
- Conduct more business training and life-skills for all Trust Group members.
- Increase the size of the accumulated savings by £34,000.
- Graduate four of the Trust groups to become Financial Service Associations.
- Expand services into the neighbouring diocese of Embu.
Five Talents Partnership
The Diocese of Thika has enjoyed an excellent relationship with Five Talents, including numerous visits by Five Talents representatives to monitor, encourage and train the local staff. The Anglican Church of Kenya is seeking to launch a MicroEnterprise Development Network to replicate the Thika model to other areas throughout Kenya.
Invitation
Our target in 2010 is to raise £20,000 for the Thika Community Development Trust plus an additional £10,000 for the expansion into Embu. In this case (unusually) the funds are mainly used for staff costs to visit, train and monitor each self-help group - since the loan capital is generated from the people's own savings.
More Information
Click here to read the latest programme summary on this project.
Click here to read Howard's March 2010 trip report.
Click here to read Tom's September 2009 trip report.
Click here to read case studies from this country.
To watch a film on Thika Community Development Trust, click on picture below.
