Senegal: Reducing Women's Vulnerability
to HIV through Small Loans
"Because
of my business, I can pay for school
supplies and medicine for my children,
and there is always enough food on
the table."
- Sokhna Niang, Saving Women's Lives
|
Sokhna
Niang enjoys a new sense
of self-worth and financial
independence with the success
of her small business.
|
Sokhna Niang knows first-hand how a small
financial loan can change the life of a woman
and her family. As a mother of five and small
business owner in rural Senegal, she credits
her ability to support her family to a small
business loan.
In many parts of the world, access to credit
is a major obstacle to escaping the cycle
of poverty, leaving women vulnerable to exploitation
and increasing their risk of contracting
HIV and AIDS. Without credit, it is almost
impossible to start and grow small businesses
that can increase household income. By gaining
some financial independence, women improve
their status within their household and are
better able to provide for their children's
education and care without seeking outside
help.
In January 2007, as a member of the Rural
Association for the Fight against AIDS (ARLS),
Sokhna took out a small business loan of
about $50. With this money she was able to
start a business selling tea and bread from
a stand, large enough for her tea kettle,
hot plate, and two tables. As her small restaurant
grew, she purchased tables and chairs and
expanded the menu to include meat and fruit.
ARLS is an 8,000 member women's federation
and World Education's partner in Saving Women's
Lives, a program dedicated to reducing women's
vulnerability to HIV through innovative public
education campaigns. In November of 2006,
World Education and ARLS launched a savings
and credit initiative to increase household
income for women vulnerable to and affected
by HIV and AIDS.
Through regular meetings of borrowers, Saving
Women's Lives strengthens women's connections
to each other, creates a safe space where
they can share successes and hardships, discuss
business ideas, and support one another to
take more control over their lives. Since
the program started, ARLS has distributed
over 500 loans totaling more than $125,000
and maintains a repayment rate of 99.2%.
Within six months, Sokhna had repaid her
loan and borrowed a second loan to further
expand the business. Her success as a small
business owner has given her a sense of financial
independence and improved self-worth. "I
would encourage other women to take out a
loan and open their own business because,
with the support of ARLS, they will easily
pay it back and still make a profit," she
says. Now, Sokhna is able to purchase school
supplies, uniforms, medicine, and food for
her children.
|
