Projects

OUR APPROACH

MAGs levies a nominal administration fee to every amount given out. This is a way of fostering ownership and allowing for a wide coverage. The ladies each receive assistance for three cycles of their project and afterwards they should be able to stand on their own. The capital is then re-invested with another group.

 

OUR GOALS

  • Provide low interest capital loans to women.
  • Strengthen business skills and capacity of the groups and communities we work with.
  • Contribute to an increase in women with functional businesses and sustainable livelihood

ORGANIC PRODUCE

Women across Zimbabwe are now growing/reaping organic products that are then purchased from them, packaged and sold. Organic farming methods are taught to the women so anything they grow is 100% natural. The organic practice is applied to all food crops the women grow for their families. Through this sustainable project, they are protecting the environment, improving the health of the family or community and earning an income.

WWAVET GROUPS BULAWAYO

Women With A Vison Empowerment Trust (WWAVET) is a group of 84 members who began work with MAGs in May 2017.  There is a total of 21 groups.  Ten groups were trained on how to manage a broiler chicken project.  These groups were given loans for three cycles to enable them to generate income and improve the communities they live in.  The group was founded by Ntombikayise Ndlovu and has seen it grow over the past year from just ten groups to a total of 21 groups.

The groups have since diversified their income generating activities from broiler chicken rearing to other businesses like the production of detergents which include floor polish, pine gel and dishwashing soap.  They made these by hand and ploughed back profits to purchase a machine made by Alice Gawa, an intern at MAGs.  This has improved the quality of their products and increased output due to increase in efficiency. Others have diversified to beadwork, opened a chips stall by the shops with more projects in the pipeline such as catering and cleaning services.

GOKWE FARMING PROJECTS

Gokwe is situated in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe, it is known for growing cotton, but due to the worldwide drop in prices there was need for an alternative source of income.  The groups also started with broiler chicken projects and eventually ventured into farming.  The main crop grown is maize, which they sell to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB). GMB is a state-owned commodity trading enterprise that deals in cereals and oil seeds, the provision of logistic services to the agricultural industry as well as processing of products. The board’s main objective is to ensure national food security through production, procurement and management of serials.

The profits from growing maize has been of great benefit to the community as some have added value to their product by purchasing a grinding mill and grinding the maize into mealie meal.  Some have become independent and opened grocery stores.

KEZI/MATOBO DISTRICT

 This is a rural area that is 77km out of the city of Bulawayo. The Save You group operating here is truly an inspirational story.  The women were trained in broiler chicken rearing to have a source of income to improve their livelihood.  It is easy for one to rush to the conclusion that all went well with them and they made profits.

Today, these women have paid back the loan and a storing their wealth in the form of cows.  Their desire is to ensure that everyone gets a cow and start breeding a herd.  Determination will, and the right attitude will prevail