The program becomes self-sustaining as the participants move from the ASAP training toward graduation. Graduation is when all members are able to borrow from the fund at one time, and the monitoring required by the ASAP field officer is minimal. Each group takes ownership not only of the money they earn, but also of the skills they develop in the process. Through this community-based method, the participants gain confidence and learn skills to become self-reliant. In the case of rural women living in Africa, where polygamy is common, having personal money also gives her decision making power in the home - a voice for the first time.

At a savings club graduation, women dance on money to express joy at their newfound success.

The Kufusa Mari project has seen over 23 000 people being trained!!! Currently there are 23 000 targeted beneficiaries of the Kufusa Mari project.

The program has truly changed participants’ lives in material ways but there is another immeasurable benefit as these women gain status within the household. The power to make decisions, even the smallest one, is huge in the life of a woman that has depended on her husband to provide virtually everything. Perhaps the greatest benefit of VS&L is the independence that many women experience for the first time in their lives as they generate their own income.

The McKnight Foundation funded ASAP's first Kufusa Mari Village Savings and Lending Project in 2001. This two year project improved the quality of life for 5,770 members who received training from ASAP Africa, formed 933 saving clubs, increasing the household income and well being for their families.  Final impact evaluation. Due to the success of the project, and the unmet demand for project activities in the community, McKnight funded a subsequent ASAP project in the area from April 2006 through March 2008. The project was a great success and over 7,500 with and additional savings club members forming clubs in the area. The first step of this second project was to conduct a sustainability survey, to determine exactly how many of the savings clubs formed during the 2001 project continued to operate in April 2006. The survey revealed 85% of these savings clubs continued to operate in a sustainable manner!

Learn more about the successful Village Savings and Lending rural micro-finance project model by clicking here.

A Sustainability Survey was conducted on these two projects from Jun. -Aug. 2006

Click here to read the Sustainability Survey report.

Kufusa Mari for kids

Kufusa Mari Junior is an ASAP pilot project that brings  the Village Savings and Lending saving club activities into the BTG school math clubs.  The ultimate goal is to increase secondary school enrolment (less than 50% of children can afford to attend secondary school in Zimbabwe) while supporting and improving pupils’ micro-entrepreneurial activities and increasing Math comprehension by application of concepts.

 Pupils in Grade 4 to 7 have been participating in training since May 2007 and 328 children have formed 46 savings clubs in 8 schools. A total value of Z$35,764,306 in loans have been issued to the participating students within the clubs. Keep in mind, there were no outside funds provided by ASAP— all funds were generated from the club members during their monthly savings club sessions.

 The positive outcomes of the program are not only encouraging entrepreneurial activities but also building self-confidence and self-esteem. During these difficult times in Zimbabwe, most students attend school without basic stationery. According the Collins Mutsvairo, BTG Project Manager, it is easy to differentiate Kufusa Mari Junior participants from others — they are the children with notebooks and a smile.