CHAMA——肯尼亚自助群体

Chama - A Driver of the Non-Formal Economy in Kenya CHAMA——肯尼亚自助群体

Editor's note: Rose Njoroge, an English teacher at Gachie High School, Kiambu County, Kenya, wrote this story after taking the VOA Learning English online course, "Writing for the Internet" at the American Resource Center in the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. Her story is the second place winner of the contest sponsored by the embassy and VOA Learning English.

Chama is the term used in Kenya to describe self-help groups. Over the years, many Kenyan women have formed chamas. Members contribute an agreed amount of money with the aim of helping¹ each other grow economically and possibly achieve financial independence.

The groups are started informally and many are driven by the members' desire to belong. Almost every Kenyan woman is a member of at least one or two chamas. The groups may consist of former classmates, colleagues at work, neighbors, friends and relatives. Chamas have given the women increased social support at times of need.

Membership is usually determined² by each individual chama, in accordance with the purpose for which it was established. Some chamas are formed out of the necessity to uplift the economic status of members, while others are just an avenue for social activities.

Initially³, rural women joined in order to help each other to buy utensils⁴, water tanks, livestock⁵ and even roofing sheets. Members would contribute as little as 20 Kenyan shillings, which is about 20 cents in U.S. dollars. The chama saves this until it is enough to buy whatever each member desires, one person at a time.

From humble⁶ beginnings, some groups have grown into savings⁷ and credit cooperative societies or microfinance companies. Others have invested in real estate ventures.

In recent years, the government has taken steps to oversee⁸ the growing number of chama groups. The Department of Social Services in the Ministry⁹ of Labor¹⁰ now has the responsibility of registering and regulating them.

To be registered, a group has to have a constitution, minutes of the meeting authorizing¹¹ registration¹², and a list of elected officials. A list of the members, with copies of their identity cards, and evidence of registration fee payments are also required.

Once a group is duly registered it can proceed to open a bank account and transact¹³ business. However, the majority of chama still operate informally, where members are only interested in a system called "merry-go-round." This is where money is collected and given out to one or more members. This process is repeated until all members get their share; hence, the term merry-go-round.

Some groups use a concept known as "table banking¹⁴" when distributing money. Table banking is similar to the merry-go-round. The only difference is that the money contributed by the members is not given to one person. What happens is that the money is collected and then members take loans until all the money is used up. Each member agrees to pay back her loan with interest rates varying from 10 to 20 percent, depending on what the group decides. This way, the money keeps growing and more money is available for members to borrow every time.

Government officials and others have taken note of the huge potential of chamas. They are warming up to partner with them to 'jumpstart' various projects. Two table banking programs help chamas set up a small loan funding strategy. They are the government-operated Poverty Eradication¹⁵ Commision and the non-profit program, Joyful¹⁶ Women Organization.

Some banks have developed products to entice¹⁷ chama members to deposit their money with them. In turn the banks extend credit with easier repayment¹⁸ terms specifically tailored to chamas.

The government has also established programs such as the Women Enterprise Fund, WEF. The programs give loans to women's groups with 10 or more members.

The amount of money extended by WEF ranges from 100,000 Kenyan shillings to 500,000 Kenyan shillings (about $1,000 to $5,000 US dollars.) The loan is payable¹⁹ within a year upon which groups qualify for another loan. Borrowers who fail to repay their loans are blacklisted by the Credit Reference Bureau. They cannot access credit from other lending organizations.

Beth Gichohi, a field officer in Kiambu District in central Kenya, says that there are currently 251 active chamas in Kiambaa that have benefited from government funding.

These groups operate small businesses, such as kiosks, farming and matatu operations, among others. However, there are other groups operating informally.

Ms. Gichohi says increased lending is a good indicator²⁰ of the desire people have to improve their lives. Her wish is to see many more groups benefit from the funding.

Teresa Maina, chair of a women's self-help group in Kiambu, indicates that her group has achieved much over the past five years. She says its 65 members have managed to buy a two-acre plot and shares in the Nairobi Stock Exchange.

She adds that her chama assists members when they are sick or bereaved²¹. They organize baby showers for young mothers in the group, present wedding gifts to children of members, and have a program to assist the needy²², orphans²³ and widows. They also extend loans to the members.

Ms. Maina says her chama is governed by a written constitution and set of rules. Its members must adhere to the regulations, attend meetings, and adhere to the scheduled time of the meetings, she says. All contributions must be handed in before 5 p.m. on the day of a scheduled meeting. The group meets once a month.

The penalty for missing two consecutive²⁴ meetings is 1,000 Kenyan shillings (about $10 U.S. dollars.) Late attendance attracts a penalty of 50 Kenyan shillings, (about 50 cents in U.S. dollars) and failure to remit²⁵ contributions on the day of the meeting leads to a fine of 500 Kenyan shillings (or $5 U.S. dollars.) Other chamas also have rules on fining their members.

With proper structures, chamas can be used to support sustainable development even in the most remote areas in Kenya. Yet chamas come with challenges. Managing groups in informal set-ups is a huge task. Handling large amounts of money can sometimes create problems. So can having non-professional personnel keep financial records. And then there is the issue of defaulters - those unable to repay loans.

Men have not been left behind. Some have set up organizations similar to chamas. They attract a large following because they are purely²⁶ commercial. These groups are known as investment clubs.

There is no doubt that the chama movement plays and will continue to play an important role in the economic lives of Kenyans.

Words in This Story

duly - adv. in the proper or expected way

transact - v. to do (business) with another person, company, etc.

tailor - v. to make or change (something) so that it meets a special need or purpose

blacklist - v. to say that a person, company, etc., should be avoided or not allowed to do something

matatu - n. In Kenya and neighbouring nations, matatu (or matatus) are privately²⁷ owned minibuses

bereaved - adj. sad because a family member or friend has recently died

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

4 utensils   

器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物

参考例句：

• Formerly most of our household utensils were made of brass. 以前我们家庭用的器皿多数是用黄铜做的。
• Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土时已经残破。

5 livestock   

n.家畜，牲畜

参考例句：

• Both men and livestock are flourishing.人畜两旺。
• The heavy rains and flooding killed scores of livestock.暴雨和大水淹死了许多牲口。

6 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

7 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

8 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

9 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

10 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

11 authorizing   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
• Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。

12 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

13 transact   

v.处理；做交易；谈判

参考例句：

• I will transact my business by letter.我会写信去洽谈业务。
• I have been obliged to see him；there was business to transact.我不得不见他，有些事物要处理。

14 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

15 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

16 joyful   

adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的

参考例句：

• She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
• They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。

17 entice   

v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿

参考例句：

• Nothing will entice the children from television.没有任何东西能把孩子们从电视机前诱开。
• I don't see why the English should want to entice us away from our native land.我不明白，为什英国人要引诱我们离开自己的国土。

18 repayment   

n.偿还，偿还款；报酬

参考例句：

• I am entitled to a repayment for the damaged goods.我有权利索取货物损坏赔偿金。
• The tax authorities have been harrying her for repayment.税务局一直在催她补交税款。

19 payable   

adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的

参考例句：

• This check is payable on demand.这是一张见票即付的支票。
• No tax is payable on these earnings.这些收入不须交税。

20 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

21 bereaved   

adj.刚刚丧失亲人的v.使失去（希望、生命等）( bereave的过去式和过去分词)；（尤指死亡）使丧失（亲人、朋友等）；使孤寂；抢走（财物）

参考例句：

• The ceremony was an ordeal for those who had been recently bereaved. 这个仪式对于那些新近丧失亲友的人来说是一种折磨。
• an organization offering counselling for the bereaved 为死者亲友提供辅导的组织

22 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

23 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

24 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

25 remit   

v.汇款，汇寄；豁免（债务），免除（处罚等）

参考例句：

• I hope you'll remit me the money in time.我希望你能及时把钱汇寄给我。
• Many immigrants regularly remit money to their families.许多移民定期给他们的家人汇款。

26 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

27 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。