We The Street People Talking

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Women fight on three fronts; they fight for themselves, fight for their families and fight for their families futures. And it's for this reason that they seem to make advancements while the male youth are left behind. Women discover early in life that it pays to have strong and dependable social structures especially when you are starting in business. That's why they quickly join 'Chamas' once they get started in life. Those in the estate economics contribute 100 bob a day, get it back in lump-sum with their friends contributions which in turn boosts their financial power propelling them further in their futures. When you observe the estate economics you will find out that women get busy after 5 pm, they collect the 'chama' money, leave some for the books and distribute the rest to the members. Groups with less than 20 members seem to work well because it's easy to divide 2000 kshs among 3 women daily, leave 100 kshs for the books and keep everyone motivated. The food 'chamas' work in a similar manner, contribute a few hundreds get flour, share flour and everyone goes home happy and the men and the children eat. I have seen 'chamas' where the women contribute 500 bob daily hence controlling 10k a day if the members operate in teams of 20. Imagine the power of having the opportunity to reinvest 10k (or less if you count handling fees) in your business from every member daily and still contribute so that no member is left behind. It's easy to write about it and easier to dream about a 10k kitty daily but it is happening out there and our women are getting financially stronger each day and pretty soon they will be controlling 50% of all small businesses if they are not doing so already. This empowerment is leaving some of our men behind and unless men adopt the same business panache as women we as men may be left holding on to half-drunk glasses of alcohol.