Betty, an ANM volunteer, shared joyfully, “I have raised enough money to give ten women in Kenya $10.00 each to start their own business. I call it Table Banking. The women will repay the money in 3 months, and then it will be available to be borrowed again. Isn’t that great?”
I thought, “What can a woman do with $10.00, even in Kenya?” I was surprised at her enthusiasm and desire to start a new project with such small funds. I should have remembered the scripture in Zechariah 4:10a (NIV): “Who dares despise the day of small things?”
A New Project to Help Women
Betty shared that she and other supporters had purchased beads for a woman to make some jewelry. At a women’s conference in Kenya, Betty asked the women, “What businesses would you like to start?” There were many good ideas and the ladies were encouraged to start small and build up to some of their bigger ideas.
Betty saw the need for funds, so she established Table Banking in 2015 with 10 women and $100.00. Timothy Kenyua, a native missionary, had given her the idea for microloans for women. Betty brought some bracelets and other items back to sell in the U.S. to raise the funds for the first group. I was happy to buy two beaded bracelets from Betty, but I was still skeptical about how successful the businesses would be.
The Small Group Supports One Another
As a group, the ladies in Kenya decided who would get the money and what businesses they would start. They met weekly for Bible study, fellowship, and to encourage one another in heir businesses. After three months, they paid back the money to the group with some interest so that it could be borrowed to start more businesses. Some ladies bought beads and other wares to make jewelry. Others bought fresh fruit that they could sell at a profit on the street. One group chose goats to raise.
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Excitement Grows
When Betty returned to the U.S., she met with small groups and Bible study groups to share the idea of Table Banking. Often, people would respond in amazement at the small amount of money needed to start a business. People pulled out checkbooks with the response, “I want to start a business.” Timothy Kenyua would receive the money and help the groups of women pick businesses to start.
And Spreads
Now, ten years later, the Table Banking business has grown way beyond Betty’s and Timothy’s expectations. It is in seven countries in Africa: Togo, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and, of course, Kenya. Meseret, the Regional Director for Africa at ANM, shared how Elizabeth in Kenya has benefited from the Table Banking project.
One Lady Impacted by the Table Banking Project
Elizabeth’s husband died, leaving her to support and raise her four children. Brother Timothy had to intervene often to help her as her husband had been the breadwinner of the family. Timothy would frequently give her food to feed her family. When the first group of ladies formed the Table Banking project, Timothy included Elizabeth in the project.
Elizabeth began her business with a basket and $10. She went to the market and purchased bunches of bananas, which she carried in her basket to sell. She sold the bananas in her village and, with the profits, would buy more and feed her family. She shared with Meseret, “My life has changed. Now, I can provide for my family, not only for my family, but I can help others because I know what it means when we don’t have food on our table for our children. I know that pain.”
Passing On the Blessings
As Elizabeth continued to make a profit, she was able to start selling various fruits and vegetables. Now, she has a permanent shop in the marketplace, selling a variety of fruits and vegetables. She told Meseret how she feels about people she sees doing without, “Either I can give them money, or I can share tomatoes, potatoes, what I have, with them. I feel so bad and want to share [what I have] with them. I like sharing because I’ve been there. I’ve been in their shoes.”
Elizabeth was part of the first Table Banking group. That group has been so successful that, ten years later, they now have $1,000.00 to loan people wanting to start a business instead of the $100.00 they began with.
Multiplied Blessings
When Meseret saw the success of that first group, she told Timothy that the Table Banking idea needed to spread. She began to tell other ministry leaders in different countries about the concept. They started to establish groups of women. The project has grown and spread to help ladies in 7 countries and many groups.
Table banking looks different in different countries, but the basic idea is for women to start Bible study groups. The pastor or ministry leader explains Table Banking to them and the ladies have a leader, secretary, and treasurer. They decide who will receive the money and what businesses they will start.
The starting capital of each group is now $1,000, based on inflation and the rising costs of goods. Each group has rules about when the funds will be paid back with some interest. Some groups ask that the money be paid back in as little as six weeks; for some groups, it might be a year. The ladies encourage one another and help if someone struggles to make her business work.
Empowered and Generous
In Rwanda, Brother Theophile’s women’s groups help when a church is built. The women use their business profits to build the church’s nursery. Because of ANM’s support, the women are empowered and want to help their church.
Table Banking is a Success
The impact of Table Banking has spread to different groups and countries and touched many lives besides the women directly involved. As we celebrate women in missions leading up to International Women’s Day, you can support Table Banking. And remember, we should not despise the day of small things!
