Community Capacity Building

Promotion of Women Governance and Leadership

Opportunities abound to address women’s issues of land ownership, advocacy for family planning and the right to be heard and respected. As team projects get underway, women nominate and elect their monitors and supervisors to manage gardens: land preparation, planting, weeding, disease control, harvesting and marketing. Women now bank their savings and the profits earned from their income generating activities, so that money will be available for education, health and emergencies. Food security is of utmost importance, and working cooperatively protects vulnerable women farmers from unscrupulous middle men/women who use faulty weigh scales, causing losses during post harvest stages of marketing.

Training and Workshops

Microsavings Initiative: Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA)

VSLA Women Groups

Training in microsaving was conducted in 2016 for the GROW, Tilling men and women by experts from Kampala. The groundbreaking financial literacy and microsavings initiative was expanded and replicated from Tilling to the nearby communities of Kobwin, Kidongoli and Bukedea, bringing the total number of participants at that time from less than fifty to about 450 people.

The project has generated tremendous enthusiasm, with participants continuing to save $1- $2 weekly. Their success has been rewarded on several occasions with matching financial top-ups, enabling group members to begin providing small loans for individuals starting approved personal business enterprises.

Savings groups, each comprising about thirty women, now meet once per week. Member contributions to group savings are deposited, tallied and carefully kept and monitored in locked boxes. The fruit is evidenced by renewed hope, and an emerging spirit of entrepreneurship among the poor.

Addressing Cultural Practices and Beliefs that Marginalize Girls and Women

Women’s Training

By participating in training on demonstration gardens, all the women and their families will develop skills necessary for land preparation, planting, weeding, harvesting, drying, storage and marketing. Monitoring and supervision is initiated by women who nominate and choose their team leaders. Women governance and leadership is key to promoting gender equality. The goal is to create and promote leadership positions for women in 4GROW management positions and their own affairs.

Cassava Land Preparation

Olupot John, extension worker showing women white flies which cause cassava brown streak disease

Evangelism and Discipleship

Training in microsaving was conducted in 2016 for the Women of 4GROW have initiated prayer support groups. They request Bibles and Bible study materials to share and encourage each other to find healing and to address issues that marginalize them. This is also an opportunity to promote adult literacy.

In 2017 one hundred inmates at the local prison joyfully received Bibles. In 2018 4GROW supported a women's discipleship ministry with a gift of 100 Bibles.