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Messages of support
Betty MUNGA
AFRICA · Kenya
Solidarity, the key to success
Since 2006, Betty Munga (55) has worked, alone, as a Program Officer for the Self Help Groups Approach Program in Kenya. The program works to empower women, economically, socially and politically in order to improve the lives of women and their communities.
Economically empowering the rural women in the village of Mtwapa, Betty organized 108 groups, each with 20 members, to come together, and save and raise funds in their own ways. By giving an agreed upon savings amount, the group members pooled together their savings to form a common fund. Through this process, the women were able to borrow and lend loans in order to begin and expand their businesses.
The groups formed by Betty also allow for social empowerment by helping one another to build their own houses, paying school fees for their children, covering health service fees and contributing to community projects. Furthermore, the groups allow women to openly discuss relevant problems such as wife beating and cultivation of land. Not only are the groups aiding the women involved, but the women also work to improve their communities. Initiating the building of toilets in schools and cleaning abandoned water-dams are just few of the projects the multiple groups have conducted.
Betty’s creative and hard work continues as she implements the formation of new groups, strengthens weak self-help groups and works closely with local administration and the government. Her commitment to the rural women has proven that great change is possible, even for the women facing the most unlikely and difficult situations in life.
Lydia SASU
