Micro-Finance and Watermelon Woes

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Today is the day we begin the final credit union visit of our time here in Ghana.  It's bittersweet, we've been on the roads (if you would call them that) in remote locations and now we are here in the booming (largest city by land mass in Ghana as per Jude) city of Tamale.  Nancy and I are here to visit the Tamale Community Co-operative Credit Union, a strong and vibrant credit union that has been moving forward via micro-finance with women's groups.

Here is the serious part of my blog, so for those who only wish to have a little laugh please move down a couple of paragraphs as I want to ensure that I can entertain all of my visitors equally :)
TCCCU is very proud of what they have been able to accomplish with micro finance for women, and they have a right to be.  Women who would not otherwise be able to borrow money get together (5-25 women), elect a leadership team, and proceed to place money in savings on behalf of the group (although each woman's contribution is recorded and kept separate on the books.)  Take, for example, this wonderful lady (whom I met in the marketplace in Damongo),

 Azaratu Mlatrama sells beans, rice and other cereals in the market every day.  She makes a meagre profit, and is a credit union member but cannot qualify for a loan to help her business grow so she gets together with

Abulu Salematu, who has been selling cookware and utensils in the same market for years and she makes an decent living at it.  She has a few GHc to put aside in her savings and wants to help elevate the women who work in Damongo and make her community stronger.

Azaratu and Abulu, along with several other women (perhaps introduced by their credit union manager) get together and pool their savings to be able to open an account.  The credit union opens a "group" account, because these women cannot have an account in their own name unless they can put enough money in shares and savings to qualify.  This women's group starts to meet once a week, or once every two weeks, and soon a young lady joins (through a reference from someone) who wants to expand her sewing business but cannot qualify for a loan.  Because the women's group is already established with the credit union they call on the manager and ask for a group (micro finance loan) in which Azaratu may borrow 100 GHc (approx $50 Cdn), Abulu may borrow 200 GHc (to expand her already profitable business) and our new girl can borrow 100 GHc to buy her first sewing machine and a bolt of fabric.  All of these women, on their own, could not have borrowed anything because of the policies in place currently in the industry in Ghana.  But, as a group of co-operative members, they create the qualifications necessary to obtain the loan.  These micro finance groups are strong where I have been, and to have women "graduate" from a group (ie. have enough savings to be able to qualify to open an account in her own name) is a celebration.  Today, in Tamale, there were several women who were graduating from their groups and could set out on their own.  You want to know what made me reflective today?  Not one of the women who was graduating decided that they were leaving the group.  Yes, they set up their own accounts.  But they were committed to elevating other women and wanted to continue being part of the micro finance group as well.  Because it makes a difference.

I don't know this young woman's name, but I met her in Larabunga during my visit there last week.  Perhaps she will be lucky enough to belong to one of these groups.  Maybe she will own a sewing machine one day, and maybe that will keep her (and her family) clothed and fed because of what her credit union, and her group, is able to help her accomplish.

Now, I'm not sure how regular bloggers would do this, but because it is my first time (and I am making you wonder what date is what, and when I am posting....) I needed to make an addition to my Saturday, January 25 blog.  Because we had lots going on that day I totally forgot about the

Weepy Watermelon Woes
January 25, Mole National Park

Bear with me, this story is quite funny but I wasn't actually THERE there, just next door as this was going down (or imploding).  Nancy, Joan, Heidi and I have had a few (OK, more) giggles about this and I'm hoping that Joan and Heidi use it as their funniest story tomorrow at the debrief.

Joan and Heidi knew that Tracey and Liam were suffering a little bit of food withdrawal the week before we all met at Mole for the weekend.  Being the kind and generous souls that they are (and I know that for a fact) they purchased three watermelons to ensure that 1)  we got some sweet stuff on the weekend and 2)  Tracey and Liam would be able to take food up north with them in case of limited supplies.  Isn't that nice?  I thought so, and so did Nancy who invited them to store the watermelons in her room as they had arrived prior to their room being ready.  Nancy put the watermelons on the desk and forgot about it (like who checks on any luggage that is left in your room?)

We had a late night.  Well, relatively late.  Heidi and Joan were not carting watermelon across the complex (there are baboons out there, warthogs, and elephants....all of whom would like a piece of that gift!).  They took their luggage and left the watermelons, we would be having some sweet breakfast in the morning!!!  Nancy and I sat out for a while discussing the day and then took our leave as we had an early start (it's the walking safari tomorrow!!)  I brushed my teeth and cleaned up with the bucket water provided and then I was just laying down when I hear a knock on my door.  It's Nancy.  She needs a rag or towel (Fay Henry, your donation proved VERY helpful here!)

Nancy had gone into her room and noticed something wet on the floor.  Upon further inspection Nancy deduced that it was one of the watermelons leaking.  OK!!!  Readers!!!  What do you think happened?  (This is kind of like a game show now....)  Nancy picked up the weeping watermelon.  It exploded in her hands.  There is watermelon on the desk, on the floor, and nobody but Nancy to clean it up (remember, I'm in bed).  Also, remember how much water there was at Mole?  No?  Don't worry, I repeat myself.  Often.  NONE.  No water at that time of night.  Mole turns their water on two hours in the AM and two in the PM  Nancy is a little SOL.

I truly admire my partner.  It wasn't until the next morning that I found out that she sacraficed one of her buckets of water (each bathroom has them for the 20 waterless hours per day).  Sad that she had to do that.  These blue buckets represent civilized functions for us.  And an imploding watermelon, well, not too civilized.

I'm not sure about the exact details of the clean up.  Suffice it to say that Nancy did her best (with her only room towel and several other methods) to ensure that her room was spic and span for the girls to come in the next day and clean.  AND (this didn't surprise me in the least!) Nancy went to the front desk in the morning and CONFESSED.  (Her words, not mine, not sure that this watermelon woe warranted a confession).  One blue bucket was filled with watermelon slime (yes, they slime when they implode, you didn't think they turned to ash did you??)  I think the other may have been close to empty and had a watermelon slimed towel in it.  Nancy is truly a blessing on this trip.  She is always smiling, and what we have been saying daily (and something to keep in mind in the future), "it is what it is".

 Slime and all.

Who is on the loose still because of Nancy's good natured confession?  Well, they are now labelled, it's "The Watermelon Girls."  They are armed with potentially imploding fruit and may be coming to a city near you.  If you see either of these "Watermelon Girls" do not approach them as they may not know that they are carrying a dangerous weapon.  Immediately call Nancy so she can exact revenge or call the authorities in charge of Watermelon Woes.

"Watermelon Girls"  do not approach as they may have imploding watermelon