FROM STONE CRUSHING TO TAILORING.
Justina Juma is one of the trainees of the Village based Vocational Training, which is an activity in the Child Labor Project. The primary goal of the activity is to support vulnerable youth, especially former Child laborers who did not acquire adequate primary education to acquire and develop basic skills and key competences which will foster their participation in socio economic life through employment and Income generation Activities.
Justine Juma was rescued for Msasa mine in Chato district where gold mining is the biggest Income Generating Activity. Justine, like other children was employed by one of the middle men in the gold processing workforce at Msasa mine at the tender age of 12.She dropped from school in STD 5 in 2014. And followed her friend who recruited her into child labour.
Justina displays one of the skirts she has sown.
”My parents could not afford to give us neither education nor good life, in order to escape poverty at home, my friend who was a stone crusher, convinced me to join her in Msasa mine. She introduced me to her boss who enlisted me in her group, my daily routine involved crushing ores and filling bags of viroba (Swahili name for 50 kgs cement bags), the payment for each bag was Tzs.2000.00.On a good day, I could crush 3 bags and earn Tzs.6000.00.I used to spend Tzs.3000.00 for my daily survival at the mine and send the reminder home to meet the family food security.”
“Apart from the low wages, working conditions were so poor, we were not given protective gears, poor drinking water and we also sheltered in unfit makeshift grass thatched houses, the place had very poor health, environmental and sanitation conditions. We also faced male harassment and molestation, no one was there for our protection or rescue, it was a free for all, where only the strongest were able to survive”.
“September 2017 was my turning point when I took my last money home, mother Informed about the Village based Vocational training which was being offered by CODERT and PLAN, she informed me that the village government had identified me to participate in the program, the Village Agent (CRP) came for me and took me to the VEO, where I underwent counseling and sensitization on worst forms of child labour, since I was a victim, I cooperated with them for my liberation”.
“I joined sewing classes in October, I was quick to learn, I am now seven years into the trade, I can design and make skirts, shirts and dresses. I am now sewing school shirts and skirts which I sell in the market, parents give orders and some come directly in the kiosk and buy. I get money which is enabling assist my mother and other family members. They are very happy with me.”
“In December 2017, I joined Umoja YSLA group, where I am a member number 2, I work and save every week, I expect to buy my own sewing machine at the end of the cycle. I am very grateful to CODERT and PLAN for granting this new life, I stay with my family, the living condition is not as poor compared to the mine I am now feeling safe and secure and protected, I dropped out of school but PLAN has given me a second Chance”. She concluded.
Umoja YSLA group in Bukiriguru Ward
Case Study from CODERT Ifakara Office
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Name |
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Happiness Clement Lupembe |
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Gender |
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Female |
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DOB/Age |
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35 years old |
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Photo number Capture any relevant numbers of images/footage taken |
Happiness feeding chicken.
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Village/Location |
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MKAMBA - KIDATU |
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Name of savings group |
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Viwandani group located in Mkamba Village Kidatu ward. |
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Information on the savings group – when was it set up? Number of members? Amount saved collectively? Is the group linked to Barclays? |
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Viwandani HISA group started on 2012 mobilized by a Community Volunteer from CODERT, with 27 members. Their value of HISA was 1,000 Tshs. |
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Family – do you have any children? What are their names and how old are they? Do they attend school (if of school age) |
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Happiness is a mother of two children Lisa Emmanuel who is now six years old and a 2 ½ years old Lorinee Emmanuel who is the last child of Happiness. Lisa is in standard one at a reputable primary school in Mkamba village. It has been a long time desire for Happiness to ensure that her children get a better education. |
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Family – who do you live with? (number of people, age and relationship to them) |
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Currently, she lives with her mother, her grandmother and her two children. She has a family of five (5) people. |
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Family – what is your family’s source of income? (If you could get information on any businesses they have, employment they are in and employment/businesses the family they live with are in) |
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Happyness is a primary school teacher at Ruaha B Primary School, so the first source of income is her salary. She has a chicken business which started six month after joined the HISA group, and recently she opened another business of grocery. After receiving SPM training she managed to know what profit she generates per month, weak and year. She knows how to manage the business in a good way and to make sure that she gets a profit. |
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BoC – How did you hear about this group? How did you join? How much did you start to save with the group? |
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“I heard about saving through groups from a project volunteer at acommunity meeting way back in 2012, I think it was when the project was been introduced for the first time in this community” She says. “During the first cycle of saving I saved fivethousand in every meeting for 12 months” she remarks. |
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BoC –Before joining your local BoC group can you describe any financial problems that you faced? e.g. before joining they had problems paying for school fees/health etc. If possible to capture their response in their own words. |
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Before joining the BOC group her major challenge was on how to secure capital and start her business idea. She made several loan applications from various formal financial institutions but all proved unsuccessful. The reasons being too many complex procedures and condition. “I almost gave up my ambitions of putting my business idea into a reality but the BOC project has been a dream come true for me because I was able to secure loans without problems” She said. |
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BoC – when did you first see the benefit of being involved with your group? This could be their first loan they took out, training they had… |
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After six month she managed to get loan from her group with a very minimal interest (5%) per month. She used the loan to start a poultry business and also she attended number of trainings organized by CODERT like Selection, Planning and Management, Financial Literacy and Enterprise your lifethat proved to be of benefit to her poultry business. |
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BoC – How has being part of your group helped with the issues we discussed earlier? Has it improved your life? e.g. hard to pay school fees but now able to pay for fees and for uniform, children now in full time education |
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The group helped to improve her life and now she can pay school fees for her daughter without any problem and her business is doing fine. |
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BoC–What are your future aspirations/plans now you have joined your group? Are these different than before you joined? |
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Her future aspirations are to make sure that her daughters get a good and better education, build her own houseand also to have a big project of pig. |
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Optional – any other quotes from people with your case study about the importance of BoC to them |
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