We first met Sabine in 2021 and she told us about her experience with her savings and literacy groups.
When she first joined the programme, Sabine could not read or write. “Before I was illiterate, but learning to read and write opened my horizons. I can read the Bible, for which I thank God. I can read road signs. While I was learning, we also discussed family issues, hygiene, and how to be smart. That brought great love from my husband. I used to be beaten every day, but my husband learned to respect me and we now live in peace.”
With her savings group, Sabine started a small business.. “I have a big cow. The cow produced manure that provides fertilizer for my agriculture. We eat three meals a day and my children go to school. Because I came out of poverty, my husband respects me, and I have a voice at home. In the community, I am among the decision makers. And now I am a deacon in my church.”
When we saw her again in 2023, the difference was profound. Her cow had birthed a calf and she had been able to purchase an additional cow, which she sold to purchase another plot of land. She was so proud of her accomplishments, and her joy was exuding from her.
From Hidden to Respected
Her words capture the transformation best: “I came from poverty to a rich woman, from a despised woman to a respected woman, and from a hidden woman to a decision-maker.”
When you invest in women like Sabine, you are not just making a donation, but investing in the future of a woman and her family, spanning generations to come.