Self-help for Sustenance and Growth

The focus of the church on reaching out to majority Muslim communities is a challenge. World Renew/CRWRC partner, Madi West Nile Diocese (MWND), has experienced several such challenges in one of the most Muslim populated areas in Yumbe District. Muslim adherents have taken church land, mistreated Christians, and built mosques in close proximity to Christian churches—even on church land in some places. Events like this are accompanied by heightened tension between the local Christian churches and the Muslim communities involved.

The focus of the church on reaching out to majority Muslim communities is a challenge. World Renew/CRWRC partner, Madi West Nile Diocese (MWND), has experienced several such challenges in one of the most Muslim populated areas in Yumbe District. Muslim adherents have taken church land, mistreated Christians, and built mosques in close proximity to Christian churches—even on church land in some places. Events like this are accompanied by heightened tension between the local Christian churches and the Muslim communities involved. 

In the neighboring district of Koboko, World Renew introduced a food security project  through self-help groups as an entry point for supporting the communities to begin to help themselves. The groups were formed according to homogeneity and affinity, so the most vulnerable sections of the community formed groups that would bond well together for a common purpose.  

The groups in Koboko are engaged in farm field schools where best agricultural practices are demonstrated at the community level for learning. The group members are farmers who live off of their crops on a small scale. The groups are also increasing the asset base among the poor communities in their selfhelp efforts. Group members are aware and thankful that God has placed sufficient resources for each of their communities for their use. In the process, the members are rebuilding their self-image, confidence, and self-worth as they manage their income without external resources and benchmark their improved livelihoods. 

Members pool their financial resources together through regular weekly savings from which they can borrow. The savings funds have reduced their level of vulnerability to money lenders and exorbitant interest rates charged by micro-finance institutions. These funds have also increased the member’s access to their own capital from within the group. Additionally, members acquire leadership skills and financial management tools for tracking their loans and savings. “All of the interest members pay on their loans is returned to the savings pool. The interest that is charged on the loans within the savings groups no longer goes to high-priced money lenders. Our portfolio is growing, and we receive the financial services we need from within the village.” One of the groups, Asakaita in Midia Subcounty, has saved $950 US over a period of one year. The Asakaita group decided to start a small kiosk in the village to reduce the time members have to travel to the market places to buy household items such as salt, sugar, paraffin, etc. This is one of 35 groups actively involved in helping themselves out of poverty in this project.

Midia Sub-county was identified as the most vulnerable area in their district. The criterion for selection of the project area was clearly set before the project started, based on research results and community needs. At a glance, the partner determined that there are few Christians living in this area, and directed support to nonChristians. What kept us focused was the question, “For whom are we here for as a church whose mission is for the entire society?” It’s difficult to keep our focus in mind when there are competing priorities and challenges. 

“Where were you all this time?” was the question raised by one of the members in the Asakaita self help group, Aisha, who is Muslim by faith. She separated from her husband two years before we met her, and the couple has one school-aged child. Their home was a disaster after Aisha was abandoned by her husband. When she joined the group, Aisha began to contribute to the group savings fund and later accessed a loan to start a small business. She has been able to buy household items like utensils and meet her other household needs. She is very proud to receive visitors and serves them using the benefits of the group. The group members have helped Aisha and her husband to resolve the differences and reconnect. He has also become engaged with the men’s group. Similar stories can be heard from other group members as well.  

People’s hopes are being regained, confidence rebuilt, and the power to make decisions for their future is being restored. The church now has made a way to share the good news through their involvement and relationships in the communities and Christian pastors who visit the groups are able to share the message of hope. 

The question raised by Aisha—a Muslim lady—challenged my thinking and responsibility as a Christian, “Where are we when we are most needed in communities to share the message of hope?” 

We praise God for:

Grace & Peace, 

Joseph Mutebi

Program Consultant 
World Renew Uganda