Another positive update to report from Just Small Change!
For those of you who may have forgotten, Coinadrink is proud to support Just Small Change as one of our chosen charities. We last issued an update in November 2018, detailing the introduction of “table banking” that allowed group members to easily borrow money to help improve their livelihoods. Now, we are happy to hear that the organisation is going from strength to strength, and there’s now a new update to share…
A warm welcome to Roselyne Okanda!
The ongoing project in Kisumu, Kenya has been going so well that the organisation were able to employ Roselyne Okanda earlier in the year to help lead and expand the project. She has been working alongside Angelina, who sent us a lovely message late last year thanking us for our ongoing support.
We recently received an email from Peter and Jane, founder members of Just Small Change and also great friends of ours, explaining everything that Roselyne has brought to the organisation. She has vast experience in project management and economic empowerment to name just a few skills, and her first few months in the role has seen her visit all the clients and recommend changes that will go on to strengthen the programme.
It’s great to see that Just Small Change is growing as a charity, enabling them to make a bigger difference to people’s lives in some of the poorest parts of the world.
And introducing *34* new clients for Just Small Change!
One of Roselyne’s first tasks, along with Angelina, will be to distribute loans to 34 new clients! This is an excellent achievement and another sign of how Just Small Change are progressing as an organisation. The clients already possess a small business, though with the help of the loans they can develop their business to provide an income that will ensure they aren’t as vulnerable.
Here are three examples of the 34 clients that Just Small Change will be providing for:
Linet
Aged 37, Linet is a widow with four children aged 19, 15, 12 and 10 respectively. Her business is a tea room in Ogango near Kachief in Kenya to which she serves the community. With the loan, Linet is hoping to expand the business by providing snacks in addition, which she is hoping will enable her to afford two good meals per day.
Caren
A widow, Caren is 67 years old and takes care of 2 grandchildren aged 16 and 14. She also has three children aged 30, 27 and 23 respectively. She lives in Kibos, Kenya, and makes and sells Githeri to the public. With the additional funds, Caren plans to increase production and supply by hiring someone to help with the supply of the produce, This will help Caren to save enough money to provide her grandchildren with a good education.
Janet
Janet, aged 23, has two children aged 4 and 2. Janet has a stall in the Kibos market and hopes to include traditional vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and fruits to better her stall and increase profits. She is hoping that her stall will one day improve enough for Janet to provide basic needs for herself and her family.
What the future holds for Just Small Change…
The training for the 34 clients is being funded from the £1500 that we raised for the organisation during our 55th birthday party in January 2018. Soon enough, the charity will be publishing their report from 2018-2019, which should hopefully show the progress that they are making. Below are the words from Angelina in Kisumu:
“Once more, thank you very much for your commitment to our people. Your dedication and support makes a great difference in the lives of the less privileged grass roots community.”
Coinadrink Ltd
10-11, Maple Leaf Industrial Estate, Bloxwich Ln, Walsall WS2 8TF
01922 640777
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