At Kisoboka Africa, we are passionate about promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment in rural underserved communities of Africa. One of the ways we do this is through co-creating and working with school community banks, which are saving and lending groups established within schools to provide access to basic financial services.
School community banks have become a popular mechanism for promoting financial inclusion in rural areas, where traditional banking services may be scarce or inaccessible. Through providing access to savings accounts, credit, and other financial tools, school community banks can help to promote financial stability and support economic growth.
Kisoboka Africa has so far created over 100 School Community Banks in the rural schools of Lwengo. Its been amazing seeing how they have become influential in helping the community members to access financing for their basic needs and investment. As we speak now, 1500 businesses have been created by SCOBA members in different communities and more are being formed. Most of these continue to access funding from the school community banks to thrive. This would rather be difficult to get from traditional formal banks which are even non existent in these communities.
According to a recent study of the World Bank, only 33% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa have access to a formal bank account. This lack of access to financial services can have a significant impact on individuals and communities. For example, people without bank accounts may have difficulty saving money, accessing credit, or paying for basic necessities.
School community banks can help to address this problem through providing access to financial services in rural areas. In a study of school community banks in Kenya, it was found that 80% of participants reported that they had saved money since joining the bank, and 60% reported that they had used their savings to start or grow a business.
In addition to providing access to financial services, school community banks can also play a role in building financial literacy and awareness among their members. By offering financial education programs and workshops, school community banks can help to empower their members to make informed financial decisions and promote long-term financial stability.
For example, through the school community banks program we run in rural Lwengo Uganda were we work, we have been offering financial education to members about the importance of saving, budgeting, and investing. After completing the program, in each case members reported that they had a better understanding of their finances and were more confident in their ability to make sound financial decisions.
We believe that school community banks are a powerful tool in promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment in rural communities of Africa. By working together with school community banks and other local organizations, we can help to break the cycle of poverty and promote sustainable economic growth in rural communities.
A Typical Example of how a School Community Bank impacts a member.
One example of the impact of school community banks is the story of Jane, a woman who lives in a rural village in Uganda. Jane was a single mother with two young children. She struggled to make ends meet and often had to go without food.
One day, Jane heard about a school community bank that was being established in her village. She decided to join the bank and started saving a small amount of money each week. After a few months, Jane had saved enough money to start a small business selling vegetables.
Jane’s business was successful and she was able to provide for her children and send them to school. She is now a respected member of her community and is an inspiration to others.
Jane’s story is just one example of the many ways that school community banks are helping to improve the lives of people in rural Africa. By providing access to financial services, school community banks are helping people to save money, start businesses, and build a better future for themselves and their families.