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Zinduka Women’s Center
Sub-Saharan Africa
Zinduka Women’s Center
Project Overview:
The Zinduka Women’s Center is a social training center for the women and girls in communities in and around Arusha, TANZANIA. It is run by the Sisters of Notre Dame and works with thirteen different women’s Self-Help Groups. These groups range from working with microenterprise initiatives to working with women’s health issues. Women who are engaged in the project work with their group to form small handcraft cooperatives, as well as attend seminars and programs on women’s issues put on by the Sisters of Notre Dame. The name, “Zinduka” means “Awakening”, which is representative of the goals that this project has for the women and community that it serves; it strives for an economic and social awakening of the community and women in particular.
Recent Accomplishments:
12 of the 13 self help groups have a common project for the whole group.
A Revolving fund was started for groups or individuals who need extra assistance to start a project.
Over 200 Women participated in the Women’s Day Celebration
A Self Help Group was organized for the HIV patients
Seminars/Workshops were organized on the following topics: business entrepreneurship, female genital mutiliation, benefits of breast feeding, breast cancer, tuberculosis
Number of People Directly Served by Project:
Over 200 women are involved in the Self Help Groups
350 village children served through the nursery
25 people with HIV/AIDS served through the new self-help group
Goals for 2010:
To strengthen the Self Help Groups so they may function more effectively.
Provide skill training for the women’s income generation activities.
To participate in trade fairs in order to market goods produced by the women’s groups.
To construct a village nursery to cater for needy local children.
IPM Funding Goal for 2010:
$2000
Community Impact:
Mama Nai is a Masai women who belongs to one of the Self Help Groups. She is illiterate, but she was enlightened through our visits and sharing. After we organized a group in her village, she started making various crafts with beads. She had trouble teaching the other group members the concept of the Self Help Group and the importance of going to seminars, but she was a regular attendee of the programs at the Center. The group was given a small loan to start a small business. When the members refused to have a common project, she took up the challenge and with two others bought ordinary household items and food supplies for wholesale rates. They decided that they will continue to increase the supply in the small shop with the profits that they receive. Within three months, she repaid the loan. In six months, the small business had supplies worth almost ten times more. She continues to encourage other women. Many have dropped out, but she is progressing in her business and is very happy. She is a woman of hope!