Miracle Group Profile - Village HopeCore International

Final Monitoring and Evaluation Report for
Miracle Hopecore Self-Help Group
Prepared for its Sponsor,
Rotary International (USA)
August 2009
INTRODUCTION
This report presents the findings of the final evaluation of Miracle Hopecore Self-Help Group
funded by Rotary International (USA).
Miracle Hopecore Self-Help Group
Miracle Hopecore Group is comprised of four men and five women, aged 30 to 63 (two of their
members dropped, and one relocated). The members live in several villages in the Mwimbi
Division of Maara District, Kenya. Maara District lies on the eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya, in a
medium agro-ecological zone. The communities in the area are made up of small-scale farmers
practicing mixed farming. The population density is high, with each family owning small
pockets of land ranging from a quarter of an acre to four acres. The family size ranges from six
to eight people, with a number of families caring for their aged parents or other relatives. The
group members carry out several types of projects with the loans they receive, including: dairy
farming, selling produce locally, running grocery stores, and owning repair shops.
Miracle Hopecore Group formed in 2006, and waited two years as an associate group
before they were funded. As an associate group waiting to receive funding from Village
Hopecore, the group participated in a “merry-go-round,” in which each member contributed
money so that “soft” loans could be given to an individual member each month, with each
woman having a chance to receive a loan. They applied for a loan in November 2007, and
received one in January 2008, with funding from Rotary International.
Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation was carried out through a series of field visits to each member’s home to see the
individual loan projects. A mixture of participatory methodologies was applied in assessing the
overall performance of the individual member’s project, including an interview with each
member.
Key findings
Each member of the group was visited and interviewed on their activities, achievements,
problems, experiences, expectations and plans for the future. What follows is a summary of the
findings.
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To Rotary Club International, the sponsors of Miracle Hopecore Self-Help Group:
Dr. KK Mugambi and the entire staff and Board of Directors of Village Hopecore
International wish to extend our most sincere gratitude for sponsoring Miracle Hopecore SelfHelp Group.
Your contribution is helping Village Hopecore in attaining its mission of fostering
economic and social progress in rural communities in Africa, realized through micro-enterprise
development programs that promote business, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment.
We are happy to report to you that in addition to increasing their income, these
individuals are cultivating a culture of saving and a spirit of teamwork, self-sufficiency and selfreliance that we feel is necessary for personal development and economic success.
Thanks again for being one of our development partners. We are sure that the profile and
the success stories of Miracle Hopecore Self-Help Group demonstrates the difference your
efforts are already making in the lives of these individuals, their families, and their villages.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kajira K Mugambi
Founder/CEO, Village Hopecore
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1. Lucy Kawira Japhet
Lucy is a 40 year-old single mother with two children and one other dependant. In 2005, using
starting capital from her personal savings, Lucy started her own grocery store. With the
KSh30,000 loan she received from Village Hopcore in 2008, Lucy was able to buy KSh15,000
worth of grains and cereals, and KSh15,000 worth of vegetables for her store. The extra income
has helped her to improve her family’s nutrition as well as increased her ability to pay school
fees and buy clothes for her family. Lucy would recommend Village Hopecore to others because
it “boosts people’s lives.”
Monthly Income
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2. Lucy Kaindi Munchunku
Lucy, who is 33 years old, is married to 40 year-old Kenneth Munchunku, who together have
three children. With her starting capital from the VHI loan of Ksh30,000, Lucy started her dairy
and mixed farming business in February 2008, buying a dairy cow for KSh20,000, and spending
the rest on improving her farm. Lucy now feels positive about saving for the future, and has
opened a savings account at her local bank. She thinks that others should join Village Hopecore
because receiving a loan empowers people.
Monthly Income
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3. Margaret Kaimuri Mugambi
Margaret is 43 years old, and married to Gitonga Mpiuki, also 43 years old, and has three
children. She started her business of selling bananas in 2007 with her starting capital from her
personal savings. With the Hopecore loan she received in 2008, Margaret was able to buy a
dairy cow and improve her shamba. Because of her increased profits from selling milk, she was
able to double her monthly income, and is now better able to care for her family’s basic needs.
Monthly Income
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4. Brigate Karimi Kaburu
Brigate, age 60, is married to Bernard Kaburu, also 60 years old. Together they have four
children and three other dependants. In 1990, Brigate started selling bananas with starting
capital from her personal savings. With the loan she received from Village Hopecore in 2008,
Brigate also started making and selling samosas, as are shown her above picture. She spent
KSh12,000 buying bananas, KSh8,000 buying flour, and KSh10,000 of the loan buying cereals.
Brigate has been able to double her monthly income, and feels personally empowered now
because of the loan.
Monthly Income
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5. James Muchunku Mbaabu
James, 63 years old, is the oldest member of Miracle Hopecore Group. He is married to Kellen
Muthoni, who is 42, and together they have three children and either other dependants. James
owns a bicycle and general machinery repair shop that he opened in 2003, using his personal
savings. With the Hopecore loan he received in 2008, James was able to buy nine old bicycles
for his shop for KSh20,000, as well as KSh10,000 worth of bicycle spares. With the savings
from his loan, he was also able to buy a cow, two goats, 20 chickens, and 150 banana stocks for
his shamba.
Monthly Income
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6. Lloyd Micheni
Lloyd, age 40, is married to Jane Kawira, 28, and has two children and two other dependants in
his care. In 1994, Lloyd started an electrical wiring and repair business with his personal
savings, and joined Miracle Hopcore Group in 2005. He was able to expand his business with
the loan he received in 2008, buying a dairy cow and dairy input so that he could begin selling
milk as well. With the savings he earned from his loan, Lloyd was also able to buy a motorbike
(shown in the picture).
Monthly Income
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7. Eric Mwenda Ntwiga
Eric is 33 years old, married to Lilian Mutitu, 32, and has one child. He started dairy and tea
farming in 2003 with starting capital from his personal savings, and joined Miracle Hopecore
Group in 2005. With the loan he received from Village Hopecore in 2008, Eric was able to buy
dairy cattle (KSh14,000), tea plants and fertilizer (KSh5,000), and was able to bring piped water
to his home (KSh11,000). Eric feels empowered because of Village Hopecore, as he was able to
improve his family’s living standards, and more than double his monthly income.
Monthly Income
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8. Edward Muthee Douglas
Edward, age 45, is married to Ann Karendi, 27, and together they have four children and one
other dependant in their family. Edward joined the group in 2008, and industriously started a
taxi and tailoring business, while continuing to farm on his shamba as supplemental income.
With the Hopecore loan he was able to buy chicken (broilers) for KSh12,000, clothing material
for KSh15,000, and a shop license for KSh3,000. He feels that Village Hopecore respects its
clients, and would recommend it for the low interest rate as well.
Monthly Income
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9. Christine Kawira Marangu
Christine is 30 years old, married to Justus Nyaga, and has one child and three other dependants.
She started mixed farming in 2004, and has a shop called Baraka Shop where she sells her
produce. Christine joined the group in 2005, and received her first Hopecore loan in 2008. With
the money she was able to buy three bulls at KSh6,000 each; KSh10,000 worth of Safaricom
shares bought at KSh5.00 and sold at KSh7.00; and chickens (broilers) for KSh2,000. Because
of her increased income, Christine has improved her nutrition and protein intake, and has opened
a savings account at her local bank.
Monthly Income
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