Consitasia Jaccob Sanga reading a special remarks before the guest of honour Minister of Community Development ,Gender and Children honourable Sophia Simba (MP) of the United Republic of Tanzania during the day of launching our project of increasing women's awareness on good governance in Tanzania funded by the AWDF (African Women's Development Fund).

CCDO VICOBA Program

“There is a general consensus in the microfinance community that collective banking programs have given economic opportunities to millions of the world’s poorest people who otherwise may continue to suffer the cycle of extreme poverty; that offering small loans to women can lift a family from the depths of hunger, providing a way for women to feed and educate her children; and that participation in a microcredit group, overtime, can decrease domestic violence, and increase women’s self esteem and empowerment. It is agreed that microcredit is an important tool in the fight against extreme poverty; at the very least it is an opportunity, at most it is revolutionary”.

CCDO women’s VICOBA program was founded upon the belief that microcredit loans, when bundled with educational programming, can build social capital and increase the potential for women’s empowerment and success. It is this belief that created our VICOBA program.

The VICOBA program combines microcredit services with literacy, leadership development, health and basic business education into a single service reaching women in poor and rural areas in Iringa. Through the VICOBA program, clients receive a microcredit loan bundled with social and educational services, allowing them to create an opportunity for human sustainability, paying school fees to their kids, afford medication care to their health improvements, increased food security and empowerment.

Borrowers form groups attend training program, where they elect leaders, develop a business plan, and work with staff to ensure their success. Our clients invest their loans in activities in which they are already skilled such as farming,  food processing and selling, raising chickens and livestock, operating a small shop, tailoring, construction, and restaurants and tourism. It is crucial that each borrower earn enough money to pay back their loan with small interest, participate in the savings program, and have enough to purchase necessities. When the first loan is successfully repaid, the borrower is eligible to apply for a second loan to expand her business. Two important things to keep in mind: CCDO’s loans money are given to women groups; and we do not make individual loans, credit is given only to borrowing groups.

“With my group, we have continued to receive a revolving loan fund opportunities from the CCDO Women’s VICOBA and microcredit soft loans provision Program. I’m succeeding with my shop business of different varieties of items, seeing it expand every loan cycle, and I feel a big change in my life.” – Madam, Hilalence Lihawa Client & Chairperson, CCDO VOCOBA program

TAKE ACTION

By donating or volunteering with CCDO on VICOBA and micro credit scheme program, you can help women create a brighter future for themselves and their families. We need a dynamic volunteer force to build awareness about microfinance and our other programs in Iringa, Tanzania. Your action can make it possible for us to provide opportunities to more and more women. For more information just read our reports from our Global Giving Organization partner by following this link http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/capacity-building-and-empowerment-project-of-iringa/updates/?utm_content=Your%20project%20report%20has%20been%20approved&utm_campaign=project-report-approved&utm_source=email2.globalgiving.org&utm_medium=email
<http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/capacity-building-and-empowerment-project-of-iringa/updates/?utm_content=Your%20project%20report%20has%20been%20approved&utm_campaign=project-report-approved&utm_source=email2.globalgiving.org&utm_medium=email>

We look forward to hearing from you!

DRAMA FESTIVAL

To address the issue of inequality, gender based violence, and other issues facing women in Southern Highlands of Tanzania, CCDO plan to design an annual drama competition, “Tuenzi zama zetu” Women in our microfinance program will be creating original plays highlighting their stories using music, drama, and dance. The theme for this program will be: Women, a force for peace, security and democracy!

By encouraging the idea of traditional music, dance, and drama in the local language, the culture of the area would be preserved, and the relevance of these issues to the community would be elevated. Due to the positive response from communities we see the event will have big success, and it will become a regional and nationally recognized event.

Our goal is to work for social justice, increased human security and women’s empowerment. We believe our program is relevant, provocative, and meaningful, creating unique opportunities for development and transformation in a region that has experienced much abandonment of their culture.

Chairperson of CCM rulling Party of Iringa Region and Miyomboni Ward Cancellor of Iringa Municipality Honourable Jesca Msambatavangu cerebrating with CCDO member during the event

Honourable Minister Sophia Simba with Iringa Municipal District Councillors