Category: Savings Groups

Turning Theory Into Reality: Vanderbilt Student Reflects on Lessons Learned in Sierra Leone

Josiah Holland, a Vanderbilt Human and Organizational Development student currently interning with Just Hope, recently returned from a trip to Sierra Leone with David Reeves, our Agriculture and VSLA Program Manager. He shares about his experience below. Driving along well-worn, dirt roads in Sierra Leone, I came to better understand a reality generally true for… continue reading

April 2017 Program Roundup

Ghana This month brought about the true convergence of the conservation agriculture training and Savings Groups. We saw the development of trust and relationships with both farmers and our teams on the ground. Now, momentum is growing and one of the savings groups has divided themselves into two agriculture sub-groups with the goal of learning… continue reading

March 2017 Program Roundup

Bauya, Sierra Leone The team in Bauya is a beehive of activity as they juggle 13 savings groups (203 participant, 60% women), 13 agriculture model plots and more than half a dozen composts! As the dry season draws closer to its end, they are working hard to have the existing and extension model plots ready… continue reading

February 2017 Project Roundup

Bauya, Sierra Leone Activities in Bauya continue to focus on compost maintenance and training. This participation is important because it addresses several needs. First, it creates a little to no-cost fertilizer that will be needed in the upcoming planting season. (The high cost of chemical fertilizers makes them unattainable by most farmers we work with.)… continue reading

January 2017 Project Roundup

Bauya, Sierra Leone Compost training is underway in the Bauya region and the process is proving successful for the Mobonoh village, which turned their first compost this month. Creating their own compost gives the farmers an extremely affordable way to improve the quality of their crops, and they can even sell it for a profit…. continue reading

December Project Roundup

Bauya, Sierra Leone Team Bauya continues to do an excellent job of walking alongside people in savings and agriculture. Eleven savings groups are still working together toward economic empowerment, with 57% of participants being women. Three of these groups will end their first cycle together with a share-out this month. The team is now working… continue reading

Hero Update: Joseph Yaw Konnor

When Joseph Yaw Konnor joined a savings group in 2015, his primary goal was to save enough money to send his son to school in Ghana. (Read the story here.) Foreseeing the gap between the school fee deadline and his crop harvest, Joseph was worried about the kind of cash flow problem that can easily be… continue reading

Hero Spotlight: Abu Rabo, Taking Opportunities, Seeing the Impact

People who are eager to learn and work just need the right information and opportunity in order to achieve great things. We provide hand-up solutions previously out of reach or unknown by people we serve. A small amount of support and hope provided in the right way can be transformational, launching a person and family… continue reading