Introducing the Bead By Bead Mamas Group

Creating greater financial security for the family is the responsibility of every parent … and for the Mamas in Makuyuni too!  The Bead by Bead Mamas Group meets each Friday to work on their VICOBA plans.   Creating a Village community Bank will offer an opportunity for each of these women to find financial support to create her own business.  

The Mamas are working together with trainers from the Pastoral Women’s Council to prepare their own VICOBA charter and bylaws; a Tanzanian government requirement.  Included in the bylaws will be rules for 

• Membership fee to join the VICOBA
• how much a member is able to borrow from the VICOBA
• the interest rate
• the time frame for repaying the loan.  

Already the Mamas are making plans for their first businesses:

• Fattening beef cattle
• Marketing Maasai ceremonial beadwork and clothing to the local market
• Learning jewelry design that is desirable to tourists.

Donor funded seed money will get the bank up and running; hopefully in 2022. Thanks for your support for these Mama Entrepreneurs!