BIZUNESH TAYE -16 years
Bizunesh’s dream is to buy a car. Nothing too extravagant; maybe something blue in colour, with a small stereo in it for music. She’s 16 years old now, a mother to a one-year- old baby. When she met someone and dropped out of school in grade seven, they moved in together in her husband’s family house in Kedida Gamela district. She was 15, a new wife, clueless as to being a wife or even a mother. She spent her days at home, breastfeeding and doing chores. There was no plan or dream worth pursuing.
A few months ago, she heard that government officials were looking for young married girls between the ages of 15-19 for a project. She went to an office with tens of other girls and she was recruited by the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) at Teza Gereba kebele. The VSLA is critical in enabling women living in poverty to increase their financial skills and generate economic opportunities. Apart from reducing poverty this also empowers women.
The women get together in groups of 20 to 30 individuals who meet regularly to save money but also gain access to loans and emergency insurance. “I loved the idea, “Bizunesh says. “When I joined I was made the key keeper.” When she discussed it with her husband they set goals that they would both achieve after 10 years through savings. She likes the weekly sessions and the interactions amongst people of like minds. “I didn’t have any social life before I joined this group, I was constantly at home,” she says. “But now I’m able to meet new people and learn new things from them. It has opened my life.”
She has since saved weekly and taken several loans to start and build her business. She is in the corn and sugarcane business. She has also taken loans to buy and sell tomatoes. “I take loans, put it in the business, make a profit, and then pay back the loan and start another business and this has made me grow financially.” She says. “With my eight loans, I filled my shop with a total worth of 12,000.00 including the initial capital.”
“The dream to buy that car is looking real as our business continues to grow and grow,” she says. Her husband who works as a driver currently earns 300 to 600 birr a day and saves some of that. “We also have a cow. Overall, I am very happy today.”