My Journey with KCW SACCO

My Journey with KCW SACCO, Rita Sanyu Nakyanzi    

In May 2019, Irene started a support group for mothers undergoing single parenthood. I was among the first few people that Irene contacted to speak to the women to give them hope and to motivate them. Being a single mother myself, it was often easy for me to share with them my journey. The women were not necessarily poor per say. Some women were financially stable, but traumatized. Some had given up on life, others wanted to commit suicide. Some had husbands, but were not provided for.

We would meet on a monthly basis just to check on them, find out who is making progress and strategize on a way forward. We met in that manner for about five months, and by the sixth month, it was clear that the people we supported and even us who were supporting them, needed money. Starting a SACCO was inevitable and I am glad that Irene followed through and here we are today.

Currently, most of the work opportunities I get and the duties I perform are mostly as a result of my SACCO network.  Should I be short of knowledge on anything, I just make a phone call. I was the very first person to take a loan from the SACCO for instance. The loan I took helped me pay school fees for my children and I have never run short of money to pay every other term, because of the SACCO.

Currently, I am servicing a loan that I took during the first wave of Covid-19 in 2020. From the loan money, I bought a machine that helps in the production of concrete products such as pavers and hollow blocks. The business is thriving and I am happy.

On embracing KCW TOTO ACCOUNT; When my children’s dad passed away, we got some money in terms of condolences from friends and family. Since the SACCO had a product for children, I decided to open up accounts for them so that their money would come to something tangible.

From these accounts, I draw my children’s school fees and sometimes prepare special trips for them as and when necessary.  I usually save whenever I can., but on days when I can’t, they save for themselves because some are grown up now. The money really helps us most times when I am stuck with fees.

My children are so excited about the SACCO because I have inculcated a saving culture in them. At home, they keep Peggy banks and sometimes from these, they offer some money for me to include in their SACCO accounts. Currently, one of my children is an adult and runs their own account.

I would say if someone wants to join the SACCO, they should because, it has worked for me, so it would for them too.