Jonglei women celebrate anniversary of saving

By Philip Thon Aleu

October 31, 2009 (BOR) – Jonglei state women association marked a year of group saving and lending on Saturday as members get benefits at Dhiam-Dhiam women hotel in Bor. Around one hundred women profited from the program.

A state minister describes the women’s initiative as an “eye opener, our own bank” and depicts strong desire for “the spirit of self-reliance.”

Saving and internal lending communities (SILC) is a program introduced by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in March and July, 2008 in Padak, Baidit Payam and Bor town respectively. In Bor town, 17 groups of women were formed that year and nine others in Padak.

A group is constituted of varying number of members depending on individuals understanding. Each member contributes agreed amount of money monthly and has a right to take loan conditioned to 10% or 20% interest. State Gov. Kuol Manyang said an amount equivalent to profit made will be contributed by state government as motivation.

On Saturday, SILC members gathered in Dhiam-Dhiam women Hotel to witness and share their saving as facilitated by CRS officers. It’s not yet clear whether this first anniversary of saving marks the end or just the beginning. Women association leader Ayen Kuer told the Sudan Tribune that her wish is to extend the saving but this seems unripe among the members.

“It will be quite better to maintain this money in groups than distributing to members. This could be our own bank but needs sensitization,” she says observing that the money-pooling has being “very successful.” However, insufficient working tools, she says represent a stabling block for women development. In her speech at the celebration, Ayen outlined lack of office, transport and incentives for the association leaders as major problems.

Since July, 2008, many groups registered tremendous progress with the best group reaching 82% profit. No groups got any lost. The delighted women filled the only hall to capacity and beyond as cheers of praises and celebration rings in the hot room.

On her part as state minister of gender social welfare, Rachael Nyadak Paul says “we are proud as women for this initiative which is an eye opener. This is a spirit of self-reliance.”

Minister Nyadak noted that women need capacity and management building through workshops to boast their saving skills. “If you have money without skills, you will save that money,” she says.

NO OPEN CHEQUE

Gov. Kuol Manyang Juuk commended women for the strategy but declines to give an open cheque. Instead, Gov. Kuol says the state will assist each group as per a profit made in the last one year. By doing this way, Mr. Manyang says hard working people will be encouraged. Gov. Kuol says the SPLM policy of recognizing women at all levels of government, the 25% representation, is meant to erase a tradition of considering them as second class citizens. However, Gov. Kuol argued the women to get their way out of severe but avoidable injustices.

“Expensive marriages should end. This is your war and you must liberate yourselves,” he said.

On low education among ladies, Gov. Kuol rejected claims that government is responsible but throws the ball to parents whom he blames of selective support to children based on gender. But surprisingly, Bor County Commissioner Maker Lual Kuol, whose area has the only three girls’ schools in Jonglei state, says there are now over 8,000 girls in primary schools, raising hopes that the gap could be narrow in future.

State minister for land Deng Alier, SPLM women league leaders and several state members of parliament attend the half day ceremony.

On election voters registration that officially starts on November 1, 2009, Gov. Kuol argues legible voters to comply and have their voices heard comes the general polls in April, 2010. Gov. says the selected leaders in country following peace agreement signed fours ago do not represent the wish of people. “Time has come to have your voice heard. Please register to vote,” he says echoing writing on voters’ registrars T-shirts.

(ST)