A saving scheme for women in Gizo in Solomon Islands has been set up to help improve their economic status and eventually set up their own businesses.
Transcript
A saving scheme for women in Gizo in Solomon Islands has been set up to help improve their economic status and eventually set up their own businesses.
The Women's Saving Club was developed as the micro-finance component of a fisheries project, which looks at ways the income and food security of the fishing communities can be improved in Gizo.
It is funded by WWF Australia, Australian Aid and John West Australia.
The WWF Solomon Islands country manager, Shannon Seeto says there are very few opportunities for local women, especially in rural areas.
He told Mary Baines he is pleased with how the project is going so far.
SHANNON SEETO: There's over 500 local women involved in this micro-financing scheme where we work in seven communities and each community has their women's groups which have their own savings clubs. They all contribute to the pot, and women are able to loan from the contribution the amount that they have contributed to help them save and also have opportunities to establish the small businesses that they want to develop.
MARY BAINES: What kind of businesses have been set up?
SS: Well at the moment we're actually in the first phase of the project which is actually just establishing the micro-financing scheme and training the women on the concepts. So at the moment it's more the women saving and putting their contributions in. And it's been amazing because in the last six months the women have contributed a total amount of 80,000 Solomon dollars which is a great start. The next phase of the project is after June, where that phase would look into providing and building capacity of the local women in the sense of how to manage a business, start a business, basic accounting, all those capacities needed by women to better manage their businesses. So that's the next step of the project.
MB: So what will this micro-financing project mean for women who live there? I mean why is it so important for these women to get involved and save and get businesses started?
SS: The women, they're the ones who really look after their families. They think about the future, and the challenges for women regarding finances to look after the finances. Especially with school fees, that comes every year, which is a great burden on families. So I think it's important for the women to have this opportunity, it just provides them with empowerment to manage their own funds to use their own funds to what their needs are, which is important as well because in the Melanesian culture men are more dominant and it's time, I think, that the women need to stand up and be empowered to better manage their own future and for the livelihood and future of their kids. So this hopefully will ease some of their financial burdens and give them, open up opportunities where women can be more involved.
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