Savings and Loans

CARE South Africa has been training people affected by HIV in savings and loans skills, and teaching them the importance of investment. Groups now pay some of the money they earn into communal savings from which they can take loans to by essential goods and start businesses.

The increase in income means that affected people and their carers are able to by food, drugs and treatments that help them to live a normal life.

As one beneficiary says “I only used to be able to afford to feed my child on water, but now thanks to the CARE program I have my own income and have enough money to buy my child milk. You can see how healthy she looks now.”

We have also combined this work with programs to warn people about the risks of HIV. For example, at the meetings of savings groups we give out information on prevention and care through songs, dance and theatre as well as from trained staff.

But groups also provide a safety net for people with HIV. They provide solidarity and understanding to others in the group which can be of enormous assistance given the level of stigma that many infected people experience. But also the groups adopt orphans helping to pay their school fees, and helping out in the homes of child headed households.

Our work on HIV helps people to live a quality life and provide for their children and their families. It shows how our work in one area can lead to great change in others such as people’s economic development and health.

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