Sustainability

Strength through unity

In the initial phase of establishing learning and savings groups within a new village, our staff assess the local needs and invite women to form groups.

Often we start with an average of 3-5 groups in a village so that they have the capacity to unite and meet the needs of local families. Eventually our staff help groups in a whole region to unite and form a Community Organisation: a local organisation that helps its community. Each organisation can represent up to 70 groups.

When we start to work in a new area our aim is to eventually set up at least one Community Organisation. Helping learning and savings group members to form Community Organisations is a vital part of ensuring the future sustainability of our work in Bangladesh, as members of these organisations are trained to maintain and lead the groups that they represent.

How our groups develop

1. Group formation and learning together

Groups elect leaders and receive literacy, health, legal and business training. Groups discuss long term goals and plan their own development with the support and guidance of our staff.

2: Promoting responsibility and ownership

Groups are prepared to take the primary responsibility for operating their group, and start to work together within their village. Group members from local villages unite to form a Community Organisation.

3. Groups reach out to their local communities

Groups develop in their ability to address community problems and needs. They begin to self-finance community development initiatives. We provide further training and advisory support, and walk alongside them until they are fully self sustaining. On average it takes 10 years to reach this stage.

Our first Community Organisation

1. Paving new paths for development

Shochesta, which means honest self endeavour, was our first Community Organisation. This organisation represents 22 female and 3 male learning and savings groups. Run by elected learning and savings group participants, Shochesta is now a registered organization in its own right. Shochesta has its own office and worker, and continues to develop work in the Badda slums with only mentoring support from our staff.