The Mutunga Partnership - Making a Real Difference Amongst the Poor in Kenya
The Mutunga Partnership celebrates its first year of work 'on the ground in Kenya' with its 800 clients in ten communities. This micro-finance initiative, funded by Australians, is providing credit to micro-entrepreneurs. Average micro-loans of AUD$200 together with training and mentoring are providing a 'hand-up' for small traders- especially women- lifting them and their families permanently out of chronic poverty.
Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) February 26, 2007 -- The Mutunga Partnership celebrates its first year of work 'on the ground in Kenya' with its 800 clients in ten communities. This micro-finance initiative, funded by Australians, is providing credit to micro-entrepreneurs. Average micro-loans of AUD$200 together with training and mentoring are providing a 'hand-up' for small traders- especially women- lifting them and their families permanently out of chronic poverty.
The Mutunga Partnership is a micro-finance initiative, funded by Australians, providing credit to micro-entrepreneurs in Africa. Average micro-loans of AUD$200 together with training and mentoring are providing a 'hand-up' for small traders- especially women- lifting them and their families permanently out of chronic poverty.
The Mutunga Partnership together with its partner 'Africashare Partnership', started working 'on the ground' in Kenya in January 2006. The Partnership has established, trained and funded 'clusters' of borrowers in Kibera -- Africa's largest slum, Mavoko, Tala, Kitengela, Kitui and a number of other communities. Since the commencement of operations last January, almost 800 clients have been mobilised, trained, registered and are being progressively funded with loans of AUD$200-$350. Many of the originally funded clients are on their second and third loans! Client savings are now approaching AUD$25,000.
Micro-finance -- a good news development story
Micro-finance is a means of tackling poverty at its root, offering a hand-up, not a hand-out. The micro-loans provided by The Mutunga Partnership are permanently lifting its borrowers and their extended families and dependents out of poverty and, in time, will provide employment for 3-4 other persons per enterprise. It is estimated that this initiative has so far impacted directly or indirectly almost 8000 people. This is a grass-roots initiative which directly targets the beneficiaries. 100% of donations goes directly to providing loans for borrowers, and to the proportional cost of delivering the services and strengthening the capacity of the local partner, the 'Africashare Partnership'. The Mutunga Partnership depends entirely on private donors for its funding. The organisation is staffed in Australia entirely by volunteers, and the current staff of Africashare Partnership (6 in number), are also funded by the generosity and commitment of these donors and volunteers.
The Mutunga Partnership's model is doing more much than facilitating a savings culture. It is also providing an objective history of a borrower's savings which can, in time, be recognised by the formal banking, financial and commercial sector. This is a necessary first step towards enhancing and developing a savings, investment and credit culture, adding value to hitherto unrecognised savings practices of the poor. Loans are regularly re-paid and recycled in a revolving manner. As a result, an initial injection of $12,000 into a cluster grows a consolidated fund of over $50,000 over a 5 year period!
Mutheu Kioko received her first loan last August. Today she is a happy lady! She is now able to buy bananas directly from the grower without going through "middle-men" as she used to seven months ago. Her business has expanded tremendously, thus making it possible for her to double-up as a "middle-lady" selling the product to her colleagues in the market. Consequently, her family income has improved substantially.
Mutheu, which means clean in the Kamba language, was among the first beneficiaries of loans. She received a loan of KES 20,000 (about AUD$350) seven months ago, which she has used to expand her banana business. This was her first ever loan. Before getting this loan, she typically earned very little from her banana business. Mutheu is a widow and is now able to support her family. She is now saving for the second loan.
Ten communities, 800 clients and six staff
The clients of The Mutunga Partnership are creating enterprise where those of us in the 'West' would not even see any possibilities, and women are in the front-line. The Partnership is still working hard to achieve its goal of establishing micro-finance initiatives in twenty communities across Kenya in the first full year of its operations, catering for 1,600 borrowers. By 2008, the plan is to extend this initiative to the Caribbean and Guyana and, over time, progressively across the rest of Africa.
A great opportunity: join the efforts of the Mutunga Partnership today!
The need in Africa is enormous -- and urgent. The Mutunga Partnership is looking for interested, generous and passionate people to join in its efforts to 'make poverty history'. The Mutunga Partnership invites participation today and is presenting a challenge to readers to contribute to changing the face and circumstances of Africa and the Caribbean.
The Mutunga Partnership is about building the kingdom of God. It is about continuing the work of Jesus - declaring and bringing good news to the poor -- in both word and deed. It is an invitation to serve poor sisters and brothers in Africa and the Caribbean, irrespective of culture or creed.
More details of this organisation and its work can be viewed on its website: www.mutunga.com. Contributions to the work of The Mutunga Partnership can also be made via the donate tab on the website. A visit today will be well worth the effort.
the Mutunga partnership
16 Paxton street
Ringwood
Victoria 3134
Australia
tel +613 9870 3369
fax +613 9870 1093
email: info @ mutunga.com
web: www.mutunga.com
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