* BULLETIN : 4

Visit to Kenya and Uganda

Report on SDI Activities by Rose Molokoane

The visit to the above countries took place on the 7th to 12th June 2004.

Kenya

The meetings were planned for us to meet different groups.

The team that went was Rose, Esther (North West), Nokhangelani and Jeremy (URC). We expected to be with Jockin and the Indian team but unfortunately they could not manage because of Jockin’s illness. But things went well.

First meeting, we met with the Director of Physical Planning and his assistant. After we introduced ourselves and explained SDI, he explained to us about their mission of enumeration and upgrading Kibera the biggest slum in Kenya.

This gave us a lot of homework because when analyzing we do not have many savings groups, it meant that the Kenya Federation should pick up their socks to mobilize the community to make them understand about this upgrading and resettlement facing them. This is happening because of the relationship between the Director and the Federation and Pamoja Trust. The ball is in our court to make it a success.

The plan for us to visit Kibera was already made. When we met with the first group a lot of community members came around to listen and asked many questions because we held our meeting in an open area next to the road. We then agreed to plan a bigger meeting the next day with all the groups. Although it was not so highly successful because of holding it at the soccer field, teams were playing so people thought we were part of the teams. The lesson learnt was not to hold meetings next to other events, but we managed to get some people who invited the Kibera leadership to come and start savings groups in their area.

The meeting with Langeta Network of Kibera was good, it gave us chance for the two countries to share their experiences and both gained a lot from each other, Khangi and Esther are a matching pair - thanks to them.

I would like to request Kenya to support Uganda but not divert their focus from their own process, let Kibera be on the top of their agenda and Uganda be second.

Uganda

With this country we really need to have an NGO otherwise we will always go nowhere and start where we left without them doing nothing. They always complain about SDI finances to their process and the ministry is the one, so please NGO co-ordinators help us on this because it is beyond our area as Federations.

We then had a meeting with the collectors and the team of 45. We especially emphasize that the sanitation unit is not a process but a project and if they drive their Federation process we will not succeed. They then started to understand and requested me (Rose) to come back and have a workshop on Federation leadership of which I thought it is important so as to know how to carry forward this process in line with sanitation and not dividing the two. I hope SDI secretariat will consider this and set aside some finance for this exchange as it is very crucial. On my side, I may arrange a team for that workshop and Joel help me with more information. Ugnada NGO needed urgently.

Ghana

An exchange was from the 14th to 21th June 2004. The team consisted of Rose, Sheila (Zim), Everlyn (SA), Beth (Zimbabwe Dialogue on Shelter), Marjolin and Hilda from Cordaid and Jeremy (URC). This was again a good team because if you go for a trip and you have no differences, you should know you are well chosen especially if you are women.

As for Farouk he made a point that he uses us for the fullest. We woke up the council officials and actually introduced them to the communities. With them we visited Old Fadama, Agblogbloshi, Avenor and Ashaman.

This was not just a sight see but to meet with the saving groups that are already there. I am impressed about the overwhelming number of member and their savings. It reminded me of the years when our SA Federation was still a real Federation for savings and loans. This fire is spreading. I do think anyone will stop it.

I remember when Beth was saying to Farouk to have focal area and not create many savings groups that will not be easy to manage. While on the other hand communities were coming to this big meeting to invite the already established groups to come and help them to start more saving groups.

In all these communities we were welcomed by cultural groups, and were met with the chiefs of those different communities who gave the process a blessing. We even met with members of the assembly (council) for every area visited. When coming to the Ashamoan area the councilor and members of assembly agreed to offer us land for sanitation unit. I do not know whether it should be a priority or not - Farouk should determine.

In Old Fadama (Sodoma and Gomora) we met the AMA (Accra Metropolitan Assembly) Sub Metro to continue negotiating with them for partnership around no evictions but relocation and in situ upgrading. The mood is still positive even though the promise of P/D office in their premises is still in the pipeline. We invited to them to attend our very big meeting arranged in Old Fadama. The chairman and Director for housing agreed to come. It was only their second visit to this area since it was there. They were impressed about how we organize and agreed to support us in our enumeration programme.

The Cordaid team was excited about the work we are doing. Marjolijn wished that some of their colleagues who do not understand this process could have been there to see the practical of what was said when we talked about horizontal learning through exchange programs. We agreed that Beth should continue to support Farouk – e.g. To form the proposal for enumeration to the Mayor and other technical issues that the Federation cannot do. The suggestion was that enumeration be done in Old Fadama either in August or September. This was a fruitful journey for me.

Farouk, must please furnish us with the statistics of savings as he promised.

Philippines

The Philippines trip was from 20th to 26th June 2004, the aim was to attend the ADB (Asian Development Bank) seminar. Apart from that the programme was drafted for us to visit different areas.

The launch of Railway slum dwellers saving groups was a huge success even though it was during the week. Municipal officials were also present to give support. There is a partnership of the Federation and Government on the issue of relocation.

Although we did not meet specifically with the members of the saving groups because of the rain, we managed to visit their local offices. We were really impressed about the record keeping and different kinds of savings books. I thought I learned a lot in India but I was really amazed about how the Filipinos manage their saving schemes and keep their records. I wish South Africans and other SDI countries can learn from them. Like for instance they are having a daily saving book, compulsory savings book (like Ingolobane with us) housing saving book, land saving book, these are different books and the system is so simple and straight forward. Withdrawal and loan systems are practiced in a true sense of it.

When it comes to regional and National budget I feel like saying we really should go and learn there. Sometimes it is good to have exchange around activities but I think it is vital for us to also go and learn seriously and not just to have an exposure without bringing back the learning experience.

The ADB seminar was very successful hoping that they will support our proposal of creating strong partnership. It was good because the presentation and discussion was done by SDI affiliated without their NGO friends. This was a true learning exercise.

South Africa

I just want to say that I wish we could stop floating in the air and check whether we are the South African Homeless Peoples Federation build on savings and loan scheme or are we now a project implementing agent without an organization. We can hold all the meeting and have all teleconferences but honestly speaking we do not have saving groups that are doing the main ritual of the federation which is saving no matter what kind of saving. I have requested all the groups to bring their banking details so as to compile the information for negotiating with bank but it seems it has fallen onto deaf ears. Telephone bills are sky high but there is no information about savings. This really concerns me. I would like somebody to help me address this concern. Thank you