Spirituality has kept us together

By Matilda Nzioki

Tell us about your chama

Four of us started the chama 15 years ago. We asked our friends to join in bringing our number to 12.

We call ourselves Women With A Vision. We started as a merry-go-round but have now grown to an investment group.

Three members went abroad while two others passed on. We replaced them because the number has to be 12 for our cycle to be even.

What is your recruitment criterion?

When there is need for replacement, members present the person they want then we choose them through ballot.

Are you still a merry-go-round?

After five years, we stopped the merry-go-round and started buying shares and selling them. We also put some money in Old Mutual funds.

How much do you contribute?

Our monthly contribution varies from one member to the other. The lowest is Sh4,000. When one leaves the chama, we refund their shares.

We meet every second week of the month in our houses on a rotational basis.

Any activities?

We hold an AGM every October. We book a hotel where we spend the night. We plan to go to Mombasa this year.

We elect new officials every three years. We also have a ladies’ day out every quarter when we spoil ourselves with things like manicures, lunch or dinner.

Every year in July, we buy each other gifts.

Every August, we have a family outing and our children and husbands attend. We also hold an end of year party with our families every December.

How else do members benefit?

We are there for each other during weddings, bereavement, baby showers and sicknesses.

What has kept you together?

We are spiritual and we pray for each other. Three of our members are strong in prayers and have been our pillars with words of encouragement during tough times.

Any projects you are involved in?

We do a lot of charity work. We visit prisons and children’s homes. There is a children’s home in Waithaka, Nairobi, that we took care of for six years. We put up a kitchen and bought them curtains.

Future plans?

We have big plans, buying plots being among them

Challenges so far?

Sometimes we don’t have enough money for charity work, but God’s grace is sufficient.