Empower Women through the Self Help Group Approach

2020 promises to be an exciting year for Thusanang Self Help Groups.  We have appointed a new Community Facilator in the Molepo area and she has already started 10 new groups. We hope that belonging to a group will significantly improve the lives of these women and their dependants. The next exchange visit will be held in that area in April.

The annual Learning and Sharing Day held at Thusanang on 3 December 2019 was a great success. 249 women attended this event and enjoyed listening to a talk by the guest speaker, Gloria Mangena from FAMSA (Families South Africa) Limpopo on Drug Abuse.

The CLA (Cluster Level Association) in the Mamabolo area decided to hold a Drug Awareness day on 22 February to inform members of the community about the signs and symptoms of Drug Abuse. As a result of this, one addict has decided to quit and has been assisted in finding a suitable rehabilitation centre.  

While women are able to borrow from their groups, and receive a lot of moral support from one another, the most important part of improving their life styles lies in successful income generating projects. At present members from various groups are involved in making fabric softener, floor polish, jam, meals, snacks for schoolchildren,  patchwork bags, beadwork, knitting scarves and beanies, raising and selling chickens and eggs and growing vegetables. Marketing remains a challenge so most people try to make something that will sell in their own communities.

Links:

• Help rural women in Soth Africa to help themselves