How a Women’s Savings Group in Niger Came Together to Supply More than 10,000 Masks

Aïchatou’s worries have spurred her to action. Before COVID-19, she worked as a sewist, using a machine provided to her village savings group (VSLA) by CARE and the local organization Leadership Challenge. Aïchatou and other sewists from the savings co-op quickly switched to producing masks in response to the pandemic. They’ve made more than 10,000, creating a new stream of income in the process.

“I’m able to help my husband with household finances. In fact, I’m now buying the family’s food, especially the rice. I give pocket money to my husband and can help my children with what they need.”

As president of her VSLA, Aïchatou “suggested the idea of mutual aid during this difficult time. In a group meeting, we agreed to buy food in bulk, and redistribute it among the members.” The group pooled their funds to buy enough rice, maize and millet and share it among members so that families could have three meals a day for the next 20 days to three months depending on the size of the family.

“I give pocket money to my husband and can help my children with what they need.”

“This really helped, especially the group members who were most vulnerable financially. Some women’s families were scraping to make even two meals a day ,”Aïchatou says.  “We also produced soap and ointment and distributed it among all members.”

Because the savings group’s members had shared history and trust, they were able to act quickly. “The capacity-building we’d received from CARE and Leadership Challenge early on, along with the sewing machines, has really helped us remain solid as a group, especially during difficult times like this one.” An empowered woman, Aïchatou says, “will not stand by if anyone in her circle suffers.”