In Their Own Hands

Book excerpt: 2.5 billion people worldwide, most of them desperately poor villagers, need a better way to save and to borrow. Even the most innovative banking institutions can't reach them. In savings groups, members save what they can in a communal pot and loan their growing fund to each other for their short-term needs. The authors show how these savings groups form and function and how little "outside" support is required for their success. This book describes how Ashe developed Saving for Change, which leveraged the wisdom and strength of group members to train and establish new groups. This model has impacted the lives of 680,000 people across five countries. Savings groups bypass subsidies, dependency, and high costs while effectively reducing chronic hunger, building assets, and empowering the community. Today, saving groups have 9 million members around the globe. With minimal support, membership could grow to ten times this number. --