NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

GLOBAL COMMUNITIES, an international non-governmental organisation, in partnership with Duterimbere IMF, a local Micro-finance institution, has launched a campaign aimed at encouraging residents, especially parents, to save part of their income to educate their children.

The campaign is part of the NGO’s financial services to the population which supports communities on the ground to form saving groups and get linked to Savings and Credits Cooperatives (SACCOS), Microfinance institutions (MFIs) or banks. The programme is part of the USAID-funded Integrated Improved Livelihoods Programme “Ejo Heza”, managed by Global Communities (formerly CHF International).

The programme was officially launched on Wednesday in Huye District with a call to residents to embrace it. Through the scheme, residents can create a savings account, named Iga Nawe, and deposit money free of charge but earns interests.

According to Walinga Kibe, the Rural Finance Advisor for Global Communities /USAID Ejoheza project, the Iga Nawe campaign comes as a result of a survey carried out in the past months which showed that parents need to plan for the education of their children well in advance.

“We’re very happy because it is a product where somebody can save some little money, every time, every day or every month and, in the end, be able to get some support to meet their education needs,” Kibe told Saturday Times.