The "Love Group"
A group of stunning transformation and blessing, SIQWA lives up to its name!
I'm sitting with a group of women from what is called a SHG (Self Help Group).
The group calls itself SIQWA, which means “Love”.
This group has been in operation for five years. Officers and committees are appointed for accountability, with a very structured governance. They support one another through loans, business ventures, prayer, advocacy, and much more.
There is so much to these groups, and the transformation is stunning.
A few ways they have helped: daily life expenditures, keeping nefarious lenders at bay (who charge up to 100% interest — the SHG charges 5% which goes back to the group), empowering members as financial contributors to the family and not remaining solely reliant on their husbands, sharing skills with one another, emergency relief (such as helping with hospital charges), and providing community and belonging.
There is so much blessing to these groups – a sustenance of both physical and spiritual provision!