Village Bank = Reconciliation + Stability

It's 6:28 p.m. here in Juba, and I've spent this afternoon going through video I took while in Lietnhom just four and five days ago. While listening to the voices of entrepreneurs who have small shops in the market, local government leaders, a local leader of the Mothers' Union, the chairlady of the village bank and others I come away with two recurring themes: reconciliation and stability.

Just one year ago, there was a tribal clash in Lietnhom and the village was burned. Almost completely. But, because the bank is both a concrete structure and has members of both tribes as investors of the bank, it was left untouched. This truth was retold many times during my stay.

One businessman, Deng, had a small shop in the market prior to the clash. When the market burned so did his shop leaving him with virtually nothing. Both his inventory and his monetary savings were in the grass-roofed shop. He estimates his losses were about $2,500. But, he decided to rebuild and start again. Deng said he was only able to do this by selling a goat and taking out a small loan ($75). Now, one year later, he says his business has grown larger than what it was prior to burning.

Because almost the entire village is made of grass-roofed, mud huts, it is an easy target for destruction. For so many their hope is to have a concrete building -- a structure that will withstand clashes, which sadly seem to happen on a somewhat frequent basis. Now, with a new concrete building bank, men and women from Lietnhom and the surrounding areas have a safe place to save their money. If there home/business is burned, they won't lose paper money that was saved under a mattress.

The bank is named "Amat Wuot Community Bank" which means "a union of communities." As Lueth Maluac, senior inspector and county planning officer stated, "It's a bank for all. It has no borders."

At Work in Africa

By Jim Oakes
Five Talents International Board Member
and Business As Mission team leader

I've been in Thika, Kenya, for this past week, training entrepreneurs for Five Talents International. Thanks to the wonders of modern communication, I'm writing this introduction on a borrowed laptop while sitting in the restaurant of the Blue Post Hotel in Thika. Along with John Hutchins from Truro and two other Christian men, we are teaching business basics to about 200 men and women who are hoping to start or improve their businesses by learning basic business skills. As always, I have been struck by the eagerness of these students to learn what we have to teach, and their appreciation for the effort we have taken to be here with them. I confess, however, that I frequently wonder who is teaching whom, as they bring so much to the table.

The Anglican Diocese of Thika is a diocese on the move. Under the leadership of Bishop Gideon, the diocese has quadrupled in size in the ten years since its formation, and is still growing exponentially. The bishop told me this evening that 60% of his clergy are under 40 years of age, and that youthful enthusiasm seems to infect everything they do. The clergy I have met have been energetic, sharp men on fire for God's church, and seem eager to face the challenges ahead of them, numerous though they may be. Five Talents operates here as a partner with the Thika Community Development Trust, and the partnership seems to be working beautifully. Peterson Karanja, the Trust director, is a real visionary who has put together a first class team to manage the growth of the program. In just four years, the program (which operates under a savings and credit model) has gained over 1,400 clients, with more joining all the time.

I asked one of my fellow travelers tonight, a first-timer to Africa, what his dominant impression was of the trip so far. His answer was that he had never before seen the sheer intensity of the students who came to our training classes. They come with significant business skills already, but are eager to polish them, and to pick up additional tips we can offer. It is almost scary how much they soak in what we have to say, and sobering to realize that these are people who will go out and make major decisions about their business operations based in part on what they learn in our classes. Fortunately, we know we have a solid curriculum, and we have ample evidence from past visits that the material we use really does make a difference.

We're off to Uganda next week, and I'm looking forward to meeting old friends there and to repeating our business teaching in Kasese in western Uganda. However, I will carry fond memories (and a few hundred photographs) of the new friends we have made in Thika, and I hope that God will bring us together again in the future. I remind myself constantly that we are small links in a great chain that God is using to help His people, and that many others have gone before us to prepare the soil that is now reaping such a wonderful harvest. I am just thankful that I have been able to witness the incredible difference that microfinance in general, and Five Talents in particular, have made in the lives of so many people around the world, and I am grateful to God for letting me see the miracle at work.

Heat, baby bats and more heat

I'm not gonna lie. Southern Sudan is hot. What is so entertaining to me is that those who live here will very plainly state, "It's hot." My thought ... "That is the understatement of the year."

Today in Wau, it was 105.8. It cools down to around 90 at night, so with no A/C and no fan you just somewhat bake. 

I also was able to enjoy the presence of a baby bat in my room last night. At first, I saw what I thought was a mutated frog on the wall. But, then I realized it was making a high pitched chirping sound and the "mutated legs" were actually wings. Nice. And, I had just tried to jimmy-rig my mosquito netting, so my confidence in its ability to protect me was lacking. I woke up at some point in the early morning to someTHING banging on my door. I'm not sure what it was but I'm thinking it may have been the momma bat. Perfect. Especially since I opted against the rabies vaccine.

Tonight, I'm off to bed in my tent complete with electricity, a fan and a flushing toilet. Ah, for the small pleasures in life! ;)

Kelli

First Village Bank in South Sudan Opens

So much has happened during the past two days... And, what is most exciting, is that yesterday, Lietnhom became home to the first village bank in South Sudan. What a celebration! Schools were closed, a bull and two goats were butchered so that everyone could eat, Sunday school classes performed a song and dance, local and county officials as well as the Bishop, trees were planted and a ribbon was cut!

It was without a doubt an honor to be there.

I was also able to meet several Five Talents entrepreneurs prior to the event. One young man has witnessed the impact of a loan his brother took out. He's hoping to one day take out a loan as well.

One mother of five boys, Ahok, has already taken out two loans. She'd like to take out a larger loan ($300) in order to grow her business and to continue to educate her sons. She is not able to read or write and wants a better life for her children. She is just one example of the bank's 460 members.

Well, I've been attempting to post photos, but am having slow connectivity problems... hopefully I can get them up tomorrow.

Time for me to get to bed!

Kelli

Livin' at The Hotel California ... Such a Lovely Place, Such a Lovely Place

Jambo!

Greetings from Kenya and specifically from ... you guessed it ... The Hotel California in Lokichoggio (also known as Loki), Kenya. Who would have thought?!

After a safe flight from London, we arrived into Nairobi last night, along with the Five Talents Business As Mission team. This afternoon, Suzanne and I met up with our Sudan consortium partners (two from World Concern and two from Integra) and flew to Loki, which I am told is very close to the Sudan border.

Tomorrow morning, we will board a plane again to fly into Lietnhom, Sudan. In about 15 minutes, the six of us will meet to talk about the upcoming days. I am so excited and am anticipating great things!

Oh, as a quick follow-up, I am carrying 18.5 kilos on this 10-day journey ... barely but safely under the 20 kilo limited! ;)

Almost to Sudan...

Kelli