From Start to Sustainability
Working through in-country community partners, we support members to build their skills, knowledge, resources and tools so they can grow their incomes and create brighter futures. The programmes we support offer financial literacy and business skills training, and support the establishment of Savings Groups that communities would otherwise not have access to. Unlike most microfinance programmes, the Five Talents’ model is savings-led: the members save together within Savings Groups and from their own accumulated funds, they make loans to one-another.
Savings Groups are community-led and sustainable. Groups elect their own Board and set their own rules (including interest rates for loans). Interest is returned to the Group’s cumulative savings and shared as dividends to members at the end of the year. This model has proven to be more cost-effective than traditional credit-led microfinance models since we do not provide any loan capital and, after 2-3 years of training and support, Groups can operate alone. By empowering members through education and training, Five Talents is equipping individuals to mobilise and take ownership over their own finances and earning potential.
The Five Talents Model
All of our programmes are adapted to the local needs in conjunction with our partners, but each follows a basic seven step model pioneered by Peterson Karanja, Director of Five Talents Kenya.
