Catholic Church in Zanzibar provides women with interest-free loans

In Zanzibar, the Catholic Diocese is launching an initiative to economically empower women entrepreneurs in the Kaskazini B district. This program provides crucial business training and interest-free loans, aiming to enhance their financial independence and lessen reliance on family support.

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Apart from being empowered with loans, we have learned the importance of financial discipline. A woman needs to engage in work that enables her to meet her daily needs.

The initiative, part of the Community Empowerment in Justice and Good Governance (CEJG Phase V) project, focuses on educating women in entrepreneurship, financial discipline, savings, and the operation of savings and credit groups. It also guides them on growing their capital through community banks.

Beneficiaries have expressed gratitude for the training, noting its role in fostering self-reliance. Amina Alfred Mhana, a seamstress, highlighted the importance of financial discipline and pursuing income-generating activities. She emphasized that even small earnings should be managed purposefully to facilitate business growth.

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You can buy a basket of tomatoes for Sh80,000 or Sh120,000, but when you get to the market, you might sell it at a loss, unable to even recover the capital.

Selima Juma, a vegetable vendor, shared the challenges of fluctuating market prices that sometimes lead to selling produce below cost. However, she believes the education and access to interest-free loans will enable more efficient business operations. Jamila Hamad Haji, who entered small business after her husband fell ill, learned the value of saving, even small daily incomes, to build capital for her business.

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We have been taught that even small amounts of money can be saved and later become capital that helps grow the business.