Empowering Women Through Financial Inclusion
In a pioneering pilot project in Uganda, urban Rotary clubs are adopting the rural home villages of their members, inspired by the Adopt-A-Village concept. The goal is to strengthen the financial capacity of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), empowering rural women to grow their businesses and significantly enhance their household incomes.
How the Program Works
Building on the success of over 100 TCP Global loan sites, each participating VSLA will invest $1,500 from its own savings and local resources, with Uganda Rotarians serving as mentors throughout the process. Over 8 months, TCP Global will work to secure two international Rotary partners to each contribute $1,500, bringing the total VSLA loan pool to $4,500. TCP Global will track the funds, and the Uganda Rotary Club will provide detailed reports to the donors on the qualitative impacts of the pilot project.
The Ripple Effect of Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs are often the catalysts for change. Investing in entrepreneurial women leads to improvements in the quality of life for their families, including better access to education, clean water, and nutritious food. In Yumbe, Uganda, where 33 VSLA groups have already reached their $4,500 funding target—with 28 more soon to follow—the impact extends well beyond individual households. Women who no longer need to focus solely on surviving with less than $3 per day are now redirecting their efforts towards community improvements, such as digging wells, teaching villagers to install latrines, and combating malaria and waterborne diseases. The Rotary Club of Yumbe, composed of borrowers from these 61 VSLAs, is ready to share its expertise with other VSLAs.
Building Sustainable Communities
An International Organization for Migration report highlights that empowering community members to assess, develop, and build their own programs often leads to greater success than relying on external organizations. However, until women can secure their families' welfare, they cannot fully engage in creating or leading community initiatives. While not every VSLA will choose to focus on community development, the decision to prioritize family well-being is equally important.
Real-Life Impacts in Uganda and Niger
Surveys of borrowers in Uganda and Niger show that with just one or two loans, hunger is eliminated from homes, school attendance improves, domestic violence decreases, and families are able to buy land, build homes, and acquire livestock. When resources are placed into the hands of entrepreneurial individuals, transformative changes occur.
Get Involved
If your Rotary Club would like to participate in this pilot project or learn more about the initiative, please contact TCP Global President, Helene Dudley of the Rotary Club of Coconut Grove, at helenedudley@yahoo.com.
Together, we can empower women, strengthen communities, and create lasting change in the world.