The Fruitful Empowerment
Wapambanaji Group is a WORTH360 group whose members are of 15 -19 years old, the group is found at Mseki Village of Bulungwa Ward, Ushetu DC – Shinyanga. Wapambanaji Group was formed on early in 2021 by an Empowerment Worker known by the name of Agness Yohana who supportively supervise the group up to date.
Our Short History
“On 28th May 2021, Agness Yohana started organizing us to form a group, because most of us did not know the advantage of being in WORTH360 groups, the response was not much good, it took almost a month to start gathering as a group. We started as a group with a number of 10 members, as we continued the number increased up to 25 group members. We were attending the group without saving because most of the group members had no source of money to support in running saving. But even the few who could start saving they were coward because they had a worry on the safety of their money but the EW had been encouraging us to the extent that no one can steal our money, so we can even supervise ourselves even in her absence”
“After having taught SBCC, entrepreneurship and financial principles, it took us just one month thereafter we started saving. We were having a mandatory saving of 500/- for every group member at weekly meeting. This amount of money could not even make accumulate much money for borrowing as we were taught saving and borrowing.
The Chairperson of the Wapambanaji Group Elizabeth Steven at the left hand side and group secretary at the right hand side giving the success story on behalf of the group members.
Group Investment
“As a group, later we decided to start investing in farming activities by growing 3/4acre of maize and beans. The farm was hired from one of the villagers at the price of TSH.50000/= the money for farm hiring was contributed by Wapambanaji Group members. As a group we decided to contribute small portion of money for buying seeds it cost TSH.30000/= We also employed our own manpower for all farming activities. Our farm was in good condition, we used natural fertilizers and artificial one which cost almost TSH.70000/=. We harvested 300kgs of beans later we sold them at the price of Tsh.1600/= per Kg eventually where we successfully collected Tsh. 480,000/=
Wapambanaji group members with SEEO in pink t-shirt are in their maize farm
Apart from growing beans we are also growing Maize, Tomatoes and Onions, we used to harvest ripped maize to sell to the street maize sellers who bake and sell maize in town and village centers. We normally sell one maize corn at the price of Tsh.2000/= as this business is ongoing we expect to accumulate more than Tsh. 100,000/=
We portioned our plot in three parts one part we used to grow beans and maize and the second part we grow tomatoes and the rest part we are growing onions.
From tomatoes we are expecting to harvest more than 10 buckets measuring the volume of 20ltrs, where we are going to sell them at the price of Tsh. 15,000/= we expectation of accumulating more than Tsh. 150,000/=.
Wapambanaji group members in their tomatoes farm
From onions which we are transplanting now, we expect to harvest in December 2022 with the wish of getting 12 buckets and sell them at the price ofTsh.1500/= per kg, and making the collection of Tsh. 250,000/=. The money that will be accumulated from Beans, maize, tomatoes and onions will be Tsh. 900,000/=
These are some Wapambanaji group members weeding onions’ farm.
Our plan and goal
“We are planning to grow rice already we have hired 2acres by using some money from the beans we sold, at the same time we will be continuing maintaining our present projects of growing Maize, beans, tomatoes and onions. Later we want every group member to receive group dividends from our project income. The dividends will help each group member to get start-up capital for running individual business. Also our savings will be maintained for having the group capital back-up.
Challenges Encountered
Although the group have multiple IGAs, there are challenges that are facing the group performance, these challenges include poor attendance of group members to farming activities, primitive tools for watering our crops, scarcity of water due to drought and rising of agricultural inputs costs
Our Advice
“On behalf of my Wapambanaji group members I can advise other WORTH360 groups’ members to think of having group economic activity rather than individual struggle, because togetherness is power and unity is success!
Acknowledgement
We are proud of our mentor Agness Yohana who is with us all the way we go through, but also the management of HUHESO Foundation who brought the EpiC project to our ward, also we extend more our gratitude to the FHI 360 who support us through our mentors EWs and PEs in structural, SBCC and Biomedical services.
