Archive for SKImfi – Page 2

May 24, 2018 by SKIC | No Comments

What It’s Like to Be An Entrepreneur in the Middle of an Economic Crisis

One of the major problems caused by the Zimbabwe economic crisis is the high unemployment rate.

I graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, but I haven’t found a permanent job in relation to my field. Right now, I’m 25 years old, but I’m still depending on my parents; I can’t afford living on my own. The worst part is the rising of prices due to exporting resources. Zimbabwe is now exporting everything from food to toiletries to clothing.

Some women in Zimbabwe didn’t get the chance to go to school. There are some who are illiterate. Most of them are housewives. They wait for their husbands’ salaries which may not be enough. Many women experience domestic violence due to poverty.

Even those who are educated are finding it hard to get jobs. They may also end up being housewives. Saleswomen are facing challenges in getting forex since the introduction of bond notes. They need US dollars to buy outside of the country. It’s easier to change USD to another currency than it is to bond notes. It’s a lot cheaper when you have USD.

Unfortunately, USD is no longer found in banks; it’s now in the black market. To get $100, you need to pay $130 in bond notes. It becomes difficult for people to do their business.

Women selling secondhand clothes at a market in Zimbabwe.

Getting hard cash is also difficult. There are long queues at the bank. Sometimes, the banks will not have any cash, and sometimes they give only $20 a day. To get $100, people have to go to the bank for five days and wait in the long queue. One can spend the whole day standing in the queue.

To be an entrepreneur in this economy, it takes courage and hard work. There is a lot of competition in the market. Since the rate of unemployment is high, everyone is aiming to be an entrepreneur: opening grocery shops and restaurants, selling clothes at flea markets, poultry projects. The market is flooded, so only a few are making profits.

Many people also sell secondhand clothes. Those who make profit are the ones who can afford to buy expensive bales from Mozambique with nicer, newer clothes. The majority of people buy affordable bales from Mozambique and don’t make a lot of profit because the clothes are ugly.

Despite the challenges of being an entrepreneur in this climate, many of the women that SKIC supports are finding success in their ventures. Why? Our microloans give them a much-needed cash boost. Plus, we give all our beneficiaries thorough entrepreneurship training before sending them out into business.

Victoria Makoni is SKI Charities’ Communications/Operations Intern, where she trains beneficiaries, monitors their progress, ensures they comply with the rules and regulations of SKIC and keeps records of all participants. Prior to working with SKIC, she worked at ZIMASCO (Zimbabwe Mining and Smelting Company) as a Human Resources intern. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Africa University Zimbabwe.

Categories : SKImfi

April 12, 2018 by SKIC | No Comments

How We Ensure Our Microloan Beneficiaries’ Success

A training in Mutare, Zimbabwe

To this day, we’ve supported hundreds of women with microloans in Zimbabwe and Chile. And the results have been extraordinary: The women we’ve worked with have by and large paid back their loans and used them to grow thriving businesses.

The secret to success? The drive, talent and hard work of these women. The other secret? We don’t just throw them into the deep end of entrepreneurship. We give each and every one of them a thorough training before we send them out into the world, and we’ve seen just how important that training is.

Many of the women we work with aren’t new to running a business. About half our beneficiaries in Zimbabwe use their microloan to build on a business they’ve already established, rather than start one from scratch. Our Zimbabwe program manager Victoria says that these women tend to find success quicker than those without prior experience, which makes sense.

But those who are starting from scratch receive plenty of information and support. Our trainings bring together women from different backgrounds and experience levels to learn together and share ideas. Some of the topics we cover are:

How to calculate expenses and profits
How to take inventory of products
The mission of SKI Charities and the importance of women-owned businesses
How loans and interest function
What we expect of them

A training in Chile

At the training, each woman explains what her business is, and they can share ideas and suggestions about potential projects. Women can ask each other—and us—questions. Some of the women we work with are illiterate, so we provide accommodations to ensure they can access the training, too.

We check in on the women about two weeks after they’ve received their loans to see how they’re doing and assess their progress. Our more experienced women help the newer entrepreneurs, who also seek out women in their community who own businesses for advice and support.

“They get new ideas from each other. It also helps them understand the importance of stock taking and calculating expenses,” says Victoria. The trainings “enlighten them on the expectations of the program, which makes them better entrepreneurs and empowers them.”

Categories : SKICharities, SKImfi

February 15, 2018 by SKIC | No Comments

Why Zimbabwe’s Economic Crisis Should Be A Women’s Issue

Since 2016, Zimbabwe’s economy has been in recession. But it’s been in trouble for much longer—over fifteen years now.

Waiting in line for cash. Photo by Tendai Marima via The World Post.

Though the cash shortages brought on by the crisis are tough on everyone, there’s one group of people who bears the brunt of the burden: women.

According to The World Post, women often wait for hours outside banks trying to get cash, missing doctor’s appointments and other commitments so as not to lose their place in line. “As a wife, it’s my job to come here and wait,” said one woman. “It’s painful. Coming to get money feels like a daily job, but I can’t eat and I can’t drink water because I’ll lose my place in the line if I go to the toilet. There’s a pay toilet a block and a half away, but I have to go often and they are not always clean,” said another.

The crisis is taking a toll on women’s health in particular. Cash shortages often prevent hospitals from getting the drugs and supplies they need to care for their patients. Surgeries like C-sections are sometimes not possible, leaving pregnant women and infants particularly vulnerable. Zimbabwe also has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the world, and well over half of the infected are women. A nurse told The World Post that women often miss their treatment doses because they are waiting in line for cash.

Women with children face even more challenges. “When there isn’t much money, the men usually take off, leaving the women to take care of kids financially,” says our founder, Shyam K. Iyer. “Their responsibilities grow as both breadwinners and as mothers.” Plus, the financial crisis makes education even more inaccessible to children, particularly girls.

Stephanie and Samantha use their microloan to rent a table at the market in Chikanga.

What can be done about it? Here at SKIC, part of the reason we’ve chosen to focus our efforts on Zimbabwe is because we feel we can help in the face of this crisis. “We at SKIC realize that when things get difficult is the exact time for us to step in and take a chance on people who abound with energy and entrepreneurism yet are trapped by political and economic forces beyond their control,” says Shyam. By handing them cash, we eliminate the problem that the lack of liquidity in Zimbabwe’s economy presents.

And by honoring Zimbabwe’s entrepreneurial spirit through microfinance loans, we’re giving women an out from the financial crisis and a chance at self-sufficiency. “With the country receiving so little financial support this is even more important,” Shyam says. We’re equally committed to providing scholarships for young girls in Zimbabwe, giving them the foundation that will allow them to thrive in the future, as well as taking the financial burden off their families.

Categories : SKICharities, SKImfi

December 4, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

Why We’re Obsessed With Mapuche Singer Ana Tijoux

Image via Flickr

It’s easy to think of Mapuche culture as being rooted in the past. The indigenous group native to Chile is known for artisan techniques such as silversmithing and weaving that date back all the way to 1300 AD.

But to keep the culture of this resilient people alive, artists are innovating on Mapuche traditions—that’s why we decided to expand our work to empowering Mapuche artists to make work that reflects their heritage.

Chilean recording artist Ana Tijoux is also using her platform to explore her Mapuche background. Born in France to Mapuche parents who fled Chile under the Pinochet regime, Tijoux moved back to Chile as a teenager and soon found success as a hip hop artist in Santiago.

Her group, Makiza, was a wildly popular Chilean rap group in the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. In 2006, Tijoux went solo, and since then her music has shifted more and more to reflect Mapuche culture.

Her “Somos Sur” is about resisting colonization and oppression in Chile and throughout the world. “Canelo Sagrado,” written for the 2015 documentary Genoveva, explores the challenges and discrimination that the Mapuche people face. She wears traditional Mapuche dress in the music video:

She’s been an outspoken advocate for the Mapuche people, speaking in interviews about the struggles they face and their ongoing resistance. She’s even been know to wave the Mapuche flag at her concerts.

Plus, she’s a supporter of women’s rights, sharing her empowering “Sacar La Voz (Raise Your Voice)” for a campaign to support the Half the Sky Movement for women around the world.

We love Tijoux because her work is at the intersection of two causes close to our hearts: preserving the culture of the Mapuche people and empowering women to tell their stories through art.

Categories : SKILLS, SKImfi Tags : ana tijoux

November 19, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

The 6 Biggest Obstacles I’ve Faced in Getting an Education

The road to my educational success has not been easy, and even today I face many challenges. But I still dream to acquire an education and change not only my path, but also that of my family and my community in Zimbabwe. My dream encourages me to take steps to reach my vision of success despite the obstacles I encounter.

1. Being a role model to my siblings. This has been the greatest challenge in my quest for an education. Being the first born in a family of five children, I have to set a precedent. I always try to motivate them despite the fact that I am also struggling to make ends meet.

2. Financial instability. Being a citizen of a country that does not offer free education and a child from a poverty-stricken home, it has been difficult for me. Applying for full scholarships is not an easy job but through God who continues to give me strength I am now getting my Masters degree for free.

3. Many commitments. Doing part-time jobs while getting an education and caring for my siblings is so challenging. I vividly recall taking up menial jobs at a very young age in my neighbourhood to supplement my basic needs and our household. My father’s risky job and meager salary from his driving career at a local university were not sufficient to meet our needs.

4. Finding balance. Academic life is a huge commitment that requires perseverance. But at the same time, social life cannot be neglected. It is very difficult for me to balance the two and in most cases my social life suffers.

5. Criticism from my community. Being a woman has been another drawback in my quest for an education. People always say, “Instead of getting married and starting a family you are busy trying to further your education, you will end up a nun.”

6. Lack of secure jobs. Due to the economic hardships our country is facing, it is difficult to get a secure job. This sometimes discourages me from furthering my education. Sometimes I feel like it’s not worth suffering sleepless nights studying hard and when I may not be able to secure a financially stable job anyway.

Blogger Precious Ngwayarudza grew up in Chipinge, Zimbabwe and studied Psychology at Africa University. In 2015 she conducted a qualitative research: An exploration of the circumstances that led to elderly destitution and institutionalization at Zororai Old Peoples’ Home. She is a humanitarian who has volunteered her services to various vulnerable groups. Since 2012, she is volunteering at Zororai Old Peoples’ home by offering emotional support to the destitute elderly who stay there. She also volunteered at Mutare Farm prison in 2013 where she was involved in the rehabilitation and reconciliation of the incarcerated. In addition, she undertook an internship at Simukai Child Protection Centre where she offered psychosocial support to street children.

Categories : SKICharities, SKImfi

November 8, 2017 by SKIC | 1 Comment

Why It’s Essential to Keep Mapuche Art Alive

Our work in Southern Chile primarily focuses on women who are part of Chile’s largest indigenous group: the Mapuche. Meaning “people of the Earth,” the Mapuche resisted Spanish conquest and still today have maintained many aspects of their culture in the face of assimilation.

That’s just one of the reasons why in addition to providing Mapuche women with microloans to grow their own businesses, we started the SKILLS program. Through SKILLS (SKI Local Life Survey), we empower local artists to share their history and culture through works across the creative spectrum.

And though today the Mapuche make up only around 9% of Chile’s population, many Chileans have Mapuche in their blood—which makes it all the more important for the history of this resilient people to be shared through art, particularly through traditional artisan techniques that date back centuries.

Plus, many Mapuche artistic traditions are passed down from generation to generation—specifically from woman to woman.

Here are some of the traditions we’re helping artists explore through SKILLS and SKIMFI:

Silversmithing: Or rutran, as the Mapuche call it, is used to make traditional jewelry. The practice came into existence in the late 18th century after the Spanish invaded Chile. The Mapuche would melt down silver Spanish coins (which today have become useful in dating these objects) they acquired through trade and use them to create jewelry, which became a central aspect of the women’s attire. The appearance of the items varied widely across Chile, because they were designed to reflect the diversity of the Mapuche and the specific identities of different families, communities and geographies.

Check out our microloan beneficiary, Ivet making silver Mapuche jewelry! ❤️She's keeping her culture alive while supporting herself as an entrepreneur. 💪🏽

A post shared by SKI Charities (@skicharities) on Jun 2, 2017 at 8:40am PDT

Though it’s been said that there are no more traditional Mapuche silversmiths in Chile, women in our SKIMFI program use their microloans to create and sell jewelry that reflects their history and culture.

Weaving: The first evidence of Mapuche textiles dates all the way back to 1300 AD. For centuries, Mapuche women have been using handmade looms to weave blankets, ponchos and more, all with signature bright colors and patterns. The knowledge of spinning and weaving is passed down from grandmothers, mothers and aunts to daughters, nieces and sisters. Their products have been used for trade for centuries, so women who possess these skills have always been highly distinguished in Mapuche culture.

Today, women in our SKIMFI program are using these traditional weaving techniques to create blankets for sale.

Traditional ceremonies: Mapuche religious life includes many ceremonies and rituals for different occasions. Central to many of these is the machi, a shaman-like woman who guides the Mapuche through rites for everything from warding off evil to praying for good harvest. They are also thought to have healing powers.

One of our SKILLS artists, a painter, creates work depicting traditional Mapuche ceremonies and rituals.

This painting depicts a machi. In the artist’s words: “She is a Mapuche woman, in charge of religious ceremonies and curing the sick.She is also an herbalist, using natural plants that she finds in Chile. She is in charge of communicating what Mother Earth asks the people to do. The tree behind her is a sacred tree for the Mapuche people. It is our protector.”

Another painting depicts a kultrún, an instrument used in ceremonies. The artist says: “It is a sacred instrument with a single and dull sound. It is used by women in religious ceremonies to appease the earth for the Mapuche people.”

Categories : SKICharities, SKILLS, SKImfi

October 15, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

How Women-Run Businesses Are Boosting My Community

For communities to develop and flourish, they need to engage determined women to run businesses. Businesses run by women are community-oriented in nature and don’t just benefit the business-owner and customers, but the whole community. Right now, there are many successful businesses led by women in my community in Zimbabwe, and their achievements benefit everyone.

Businesswomen in my community are doing tremendous work. Some of them have embraced the beekeeping business. Bees are playing a crucial role in my community—the pollination process is essential for plants and crops, and hence, humans! We are benefitting from healthy raw honey and other products like candles and cosmetics.

Other women are doing poultry keeping. This is providing the community with eggs, meat, feathers and manure. These women are encouraging people to raise poultry not for business alone but for agricultural and survival purposes. Poultry helps fertilize gardens and crops and eliminate pests.

Another businesswoman-led project that is bringing people in my community together is knitting and crocheting. During weekends people gather in groups exchanging patterns thereby creating a spirit of ubuntu (oneness).

Having successful women in our community motivates others to pursue their dreams and give back to their neighbors. Their stories have become models for our own accomplishments—they prove that we must be determined to achieve our goals despite the challenges we face.

Categories : SKImfi

September 8, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

7 Ways We Can Promote Women’s Education In Our Everyday Lives

Education is the most powerful weapon a woman can have. But in communities that don’t value women’s education, how do we provide them with the tools and knowledge they need? There are many ways of enlightening women about their worth in the community.

Starting business projects.

Education starts with small initiatives. There are many hard working business women who are just waiting to discover their gift of building a successful business. A microloan is the only thing they need to invest in an income generating business like fish farming, bee keeping and poultry farming. These microloans help women to gain financial independence.

Doing vocational training.

A useful skill is often enough for a woman to start a career. Teaching women skills like dress making, catering, housekeeping, bookkeeping and horticulture can lead women into productive work.

Introducing job opportunities.

There is a great need for communities to promote secure labor markets for women. Women have limited access to job opportunities which in turn puts them on the disadvantage.

Promoting the importance of education.

The moment women are given the chance to get an education their aspirations rise.

Informing them about their rights.

Knowing their rights is also a prerequisite for advancing development and reducing poverty.

Being a role model figure

Being a role model to younger women is another way of educating them passively. Be confident and show them that they too can be an influential woman.

Educating men.

Men need to be educated about women’s rights issue just as much as women do. It’s important to have allies in men, but it’s also vital because when women become aware of their rights at a faster pace than men, social problems can arise.

Categories : SKImfi

August 13, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

Staff Portrait: Meet Victoria, SKImfi Zimbabwe Communications Intern

SKIC’s Zimbabwe-based communications intern, Victoria, on what her role is like:

What is your role at SKImfi?

I am a communications/operations intern at SKImfi and I assist with keeping the records of the beneficiaries, ensuring that they comply with SKImfi rules and regulations, and compiling reports on the progress of their projects.

What does a day look like when you go out to meet with beneficiaries?

When we go out to meet with beneficiaries, the day is exciting. I like visiting women from different places. It gives me the opportunity to see life in a different way by spending time with new people in a new environment and hearing about their life stories and projects.

I was quite impressed by one of the groups we visited in Mutare. They mainly focused on buying and selling bales of second hand clothes. When they first joined SKImfi, their projects did not go so well. They had bought a bale of blouses only to find out the blouses were off-season. We were approaching winter, so people were buying warm clothes. What I liked about these ladies is they did not sit on their project—they actually went to some of the rural areas in Mutare and they traded their blouses with mealies and nuts. The next time they went to Mozambique, they bought a bale of kids’ jerseys and they made a profit of 60%. I liked that these ladies are hard-working and open-minded.

How have you seen beneficiaries benefit and grow from SKImfi?

The loans that beneficiaries have received from SKImfi have helped them to start something. For example, those who rear chickens and sell them have made a lot of profit. They buy 25 chicks for $18 and rear them for 5 weeks. They then sell the chickens for $7 each.

What do you find to be the most meaningful part of your job?

Visiting the beneficiaries to monitor their projects. It gives me a chance to understand some of their challenges and help them with ideas on how to approach their problems.

Why do you think it’s important to empower women and girls?

Women’s empowerment is important because it leads to development of society as well as the economy. It also reduces poverty: sometimes the money earned by the male member of the society is insufficient to meet the demands of the family, and the added earnings of the women helps the family come out of poverty.

Categories : SKICharities, SKImfi

July 20, 2017 by SKIC | No Comments

7 Sexist Comments I Hear—And What I Say in Return

Precious Ngwayarudza, a native of Zimbabwe, shares some of the comments she’s heard as single woman pursuing education—and her strategies for combatting casual sexism:

Why are you obtaining a Masters degree? Don’t you know that you will never secure a job in Zimbabwe?

Learning is my passion. As long as I have the funding to continue educating myself, nothing will stop me, and I’m confident that I will secure a job that is good for me.

If you continue learning, no man will be bold enough to marry you.

I don’t aspire to be married to a coward. I will marry a man who suits my educational status and demands.

Education is for men, not women. Do you think you’ll even use your education once you’re married?

I’m pursuing education so that I can have a better understanding of the world. Even if I choose not to have a career, my education will still serve me; the best thing about being educated is being able to view the world in a new way.

Why are you wasting your time and money on learning? When you marry, you’ll be taken care of by your husband and you will be confined to the kitchen.

I want to be my husband’s equal, not a burden and responsibility.

You aren’t going to have time to spend with your children, you’ll be too busy.

Necessity is the mother of invention. I will make time for both my career and family.

Haven’t you noticed that everyone your age is already married?

I’m too busy to be concerned about something like that.

Precious Ngwayarudza grew up in Chipinge, Zimbabwe and studied Psychology at Africa University. In 2015 she conducted a qualitative research: An exploration of the circumstances that led to elderly destitution and institutionalization at Zororai Old Peoples’ Home. She is a humanitarian who has volunteered her services to various vulnerable groups. Since 2012, she is volunteering at Zororai Old Peoples’ home by offering emotional support to the destitute elderly who stay there. She also volunteered at Mutare Farm prison in 2013 where she was involved in the rehabilitation and reconciliation of the incarcerated. In addition, she undertook an internship at Simukai Child Protection Centre where she offered psychosocial support to street children.

Categories : SKICharities, SKImfi

Archive for SKImfi – Page 2

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