(Case 2)
Fighting Against The Odds
This is a real life story of a group of six Muslim women who fought against all odds. All of them live in a small house. Three of them are widows. They borrowed some funds from moneylenders at a high rate of interest (110%) for making traditional Kerala edible food items. Whatever they earn, the moneylender would take from them as principle amount and interest. Each day they would work hard to earn their livelihood, but they could rarely meet both ends.
They came to know about ESAF Savings and Credit Program from their friend who was a member in a center near by their houses. They enquired with ESAF whether they could join in the center and start their business together. ESAF staff encouraged them to join in the program and helped them in their joint venture. All of them joined in the program and took a loan of Rs 5000/- each, i.e. a total of Rs 30000/- (USD 665). They built a small shed for preparing the edible food items, purchased vessels and raw materials in bulk. Two of them went out for marketing while the other four were engaged in preparing the food items. They got lots of orders from hotels, houses and even for various social functions. Their special food got a great demand in the market.
Their joint venture helped them to increase their family income.
They also got a social acceptance. They were deeply satisfied with the program: " It is a great help to our families, we are now able to meet our needs. Our relationship to each other strengthened a lot to an extend where we are able to depend upon each other for any problems. ESAF came here at the right time when we were going through a very difficult situation". They are planning to expand their enterprise by purchasing a small goods vehicle, which will help them in marketing to various places.
CASE STUDIES (Case 1)
Towards A New Horizon...
Mary, 45 years old widow, educated up to primary school, hails from a lower class family, living in a colony of Trichur Corporation. She lost her husband long back. She was in a condition where she could hardly meet both ends, she was working as a labor in a bakery unit that would not give her much income. As she knew the baking process of many items, which had wide demand, she wanted to start a small production unit by her self. But the financial constrain in the family compelled her to hold back her dream, and there was no other source of financial assistance which she could think of in her vicinity.
This is the time she heard about ESAF Savings and Credit Programme through other women who already became members in a center.
She joined in the center only after discussing with other women to know about the programme and whether it helped them or not. She observed other centers and how they were functioning. She got confident in the programme and became a member.
ESAF staff encouraged her to start her own production unit. She visited some of the bakery and stores for knowing the demand of bakery items.
Mary took a loan of Rs. 10000/- (USD 225) for starting her own production unit for bakery items. She was supported technically, and the marketing assistance was given by ESAF. She brought some machines and raw materials in bulk for the unit. She took the help of her son in marketing the product. During some festivals she herself put stall for marketing the products. She took second loan of Rs. 10000/- (USD 225) and employed two women in the production unit and brought out variety of bakery items.
After two years the result was tremendous. Their family income increased and they were able to repay the past debts.
When we asked about her achievement, with over joy she told us: " This programme really helped me and my family to come out of poverty.
I thank God for ESAF and its support". She wants now to expand the present work by adding new products and extending the product to more customers.
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SANTHWANA CARE & COUNSELING CENTER
Ms.Sheena (name changed to protect the identity) aged 26 is a young widow and a victim of AIDS. Her husband had a tragic end as a victim of AIDS in January 2000. He was a hemophilia patient also. He was infected with HIV through the blood transfusion. This couple has a son who is three years old. Now Ms. Sheena is under the care of her parents. They are poor people, facing financial crisis. At present she is not taking medicines, just because she can’t afford it. ESAF has been giving home-based care to her. We give hope and encouragement to her family as well in terms of physical and emotional support. We have been giving advice to her family members about the precautions to be taken for caring. We gave them health education regarding AIDS and helped them remove their misconceptions. Giving psychological and emotional support through the home-based care already changed their attitude. We believe the home-based care can change their fear, hatred and prejudice towards AIDS.