Village Saving Fund Programme - In early 2008 Project HOPE used the successful experiences of the Orphan and Vulnerable Children project in Mozambique to launch a pilot Village Savings Fund (VSF) project in the informal settlement of Munsieville, West Rand District, Gauteng Province in partnership with The Haven (a local NGO).The fundamental activity is the formation of small groups of 10-25 willing OVC caregivers (defined as persons responsible for the care and support of orphans) that want to begin pooling modest amounts of savings, and mobilising those savings to provide interest-bearing loans to each other for their short-term credit needs (such as buying seeds for planting season, paying school fees so children can attend school, pay for medical assistance, and to take advantage of business opportunities) on a continual basis. The interest on the loans taken is essentially interest on the pooled savings, and goes back to the members thus providing an increased revenue source whether they are borrowers or lenders. Local capacities are built because self-governing groups mobilise their own funds, manage them, decide on their loan terms, and receive interest return on their savings through investing in loans.

Participating caregivers will also receive parenting training to help them support the needs of all children under their care, including orphans. This education encompasses a variety of domains including household nutrition, health, parenting skills, HIV prevention, appropriate protection, legal rights and psycho-social support. The project is currently working with 500 OVC caregivers serving over 1,200 children.

Read our blog about the Munsieville Project in South Africa.