Poverty Reduction

Increased household income

In level 2, participants learn basic math, and practice using shopping lists, receipts, and keeping a simple cash book. These skills make it easier to plan household finances and to carry out income-generating activities.

A woman in the village of Kakenge in DRC explains how her new skills have enabled her small shop to turn a profit. She often had to sell on credit, but since she could not read and write it was difficult to keep track of the debts. When customers refused to pay, there was no written evidence to refer to. Now she carefully notes all debts in her cash book.

In Uganda, many participants are housewives with no income of their own when they start the course, but after one or two years, thanks to new skills and increased self-confidence, they can start earning money through e.g. a market stall, restaurant or textile business.

Cooperation and entrepreneurship

In Congo, many study groups start saving together in their first year and use the money for joint income-generating activities. Many invest in animal husbandry.

The Level 1 group in Kalole built a chicken coop and bought a rooster and some hens. They plan to sell the eggs to generate an extra income for the group participants and their families. The study group in Lusirwe has built a rabbit house and bought six rabbits. The group in Izege has joined together to buy guinea pigs, to be cared for by an experienced group member.

Other groups invest in communal farming. The Level 2 group in the village of Konge wants to buy a field for joint cultivation. They plan to finance this through sales of cassava, with each member contributing 10 kg per month from their own harvest. Another group has saved up money to rent a field where they will grow beans.

Many study groups in Uganda continue to meet after completing the full ALEF program. These groups are independent, but receive regular follow-up and advice from CACI. Many start entrepreneurial activities together.

A group in Katabi started selling fish. Their business grew quickly and they now deliver fish daily to several local hotels. They have registered as a cooperative and managed to obtain a business loan through a government development program. Other groups have started making and selling products such as pastries, charcoal, soap and candles. A group in Kibiri has used their savings to buy tableware which they rent out for parties and weddings.

A group in Lwanjaba, on the shores of Lake Victoria, was scattered when their fishing village was demolished and the participants moved to different locations. CACI managed to locate the facilitator and about ten former participants who have now started meeting again and saving money together. The community has helped them face the challenges of starting a new life in another fishing village.

Agriculture and husbandry

The last module of Level 3 in Togo is focused on sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry. Participants read texts together and receive hands-on training and demonstrations from experts.

Among other things, they learn poultry farming, use of organic fertilizer and soil improvement techniques. Improved agriculture provides both better access to food in families and better economy by selling the surplus. A member of a group in the village of Adokame tells how the increased the profit from his harvest thanks to the use of chicken manure, since he saved a lot of money that he previously had to spend on the purchase of large quantities of artificial fertilizers.

The literacy and numeracy skills that participants acquire in the study groups help them to better plan cultivation and manage the sale of agricultural produce. Many of the lesson texts encourage discussion on these topics, and the accompanying math exercises teach participants how to calculate expenses and income. A study group in Kaziba, Congo, wrote the following text on the importance of staying informed about price levels:

"We will make sure to keep a close eye on the prices of our agricultural products. We must buy at affordable prices to sell without problems and respect the rules. Let each of us know how to identify the markets where there is a strong demand for our products. We will know well how to calculate the loss or profit when selling in the market and paying the state tax."

Education

The education of the next generation is crucial for society's developnment and families' future livelihood. Lack of money is one of the main reasons why many project participants in Togo and DRC have children of school age who do not go to school. We receive many stories of participants who can now afford to send their children to school thanks to new income-generating activities. A woman in the village of Mogo in Congo tells how she got help from her fellow students when she could not afford school fees for all her children herself.

Sometimes it is patriarchal norms that stand in the way of girls' schooling. ALEF learning materials often include lesson texts on the right to education. Many participants report that their views on education have changed since joining a study group and that they also have managed to persuade their spouse, so now they send all their children, girls as well as boys, to school and even help them with their schoolwork.