Little by Little For Vocational Education

One of the most amazing things about supporting women entrepreneurs is that they invest their microloans immediately in their businesses to increase sales and grow market share. They know that for success they need to increase their operations, and they learn how to deploy even small funds in the most efficient manner to succeed. One woman was able to increase vegetable sales by adding Irish potatoes and green bananas to her inventory.  Another increased the amount of sugar cane she had to sell. Both reported improved conditions at home because of these efforts.

Training extends to tutoring people about planting, too.  Now that the October rains are here, the people of Kinyana are planting maize and beans on the land the local government allowed them to farm. The photo shows our field manager, Claude, hard at work demonstrating cultivation techniques with village women.  He helped them get seeds and fertilizer, too, and demonstrated best methods for ensuring a good crop yield this season.

In January of 2024, the Weaver Co-Op asked for help learning to make soap. They began and became successful in February in making liquid soap.  Now, they are prodicing soap not only for all the villagers, but also for the Primary and Secondary schools, who buy gallons at a time so the students can keep their hands clean. Very exciting!  

The women have also learned to make bar soap.  Although it looks hard, it is really great for doing laundry because it can be rubbed into soiled fabric to help wash away the dirt. 

With some of the profits, they are purchasing one bed mattress each week.  Most of the women have never slept on a mattress before.  That is hard for many people in the USA to imagine.  For these women, it is a dream come true, and a sweet dream. too!