The need to train more Kenyans in skills which can be immediately applied to increasing family income and alleviate poverty, has become apparent. Many Kenyans living in rural areas have never completed more than a few years of schooling if that, and are limited by their present poverty to subsistence farming and selling a few vegetables in the local market. They are often hard working, very responsible individuals. It is Tembo-Kenya's intention to devote more of its resources to offering them access to training.

Tembo-Kenya has already given training grants for commercial vehicle driving, dressmaking, carpentry and a specialized farming course. Candidates are required to name the course and institution where they wish to train. The legitimacy and course costs are verified and, if the candidate is successful, a Tembo-Kenya agent pays fees directly to the institution on the candidate's behalf. Course costs have ranged from $150 to $350.

In the past Tembo-Kenya has lent money to individual members of 3 microfinance groups. The groups were brought together by trustworthy individuals having no personal financial interest in them (clergy, school principals) who were also able to provide meeting places. Group membership was restricted to widows or abandoned women having few sources of income, no access to capital but with an entrepreneurial nature. In one location group membership was oversubscribed and numbers consequently restricted. Regular meetings were held to collect money, discuss ideas which a woman might have for a new or expanded enterprise and make new loans if properly justified.

Initial loans to an applicant were limited to $15.00, with subsequent amounts to a maximum of $150.00 if all intermediate loans had been repaid. Women were allowed to pool their loans for joint projects. A business plan and loan agreement was completed by loan recipients with a template used to help the planning process.

Typical loans were for:

• Sheep breeding and meat
• Charcoal manufacture
• Purchase of a cow for sale of milk
• Charcoal stove manufacture
• Poultry farming for egg production and sale of birds

Tembo-Kenya's direct involvement in making loans to individuals within microfinance groups has been modified recently. The groups collectively have learned basic business skills and are now fully capable of operating in an autonomous manner. They have formed "Community Based Organisations" (legally constituted self-help groups with elected officers and a bank account) and are now expected to be self-financed and self-sustaining. The involvement of Tembo-Kenya has evolved to support of the groups through organizing and providing business education seminars and literacy/numeracy classes when requested. Cost to give a training seminar to a group of 40 amounts to about $200.

Provide basic business training and simple bookkeeping for women: $200 will provide a seminar and follow-up for 40 women. We have several women's groups anxious to progress beyond the small micro-loans we are able to give. Basic business training and simple bookkeeping are essential. It costs about $200 to run a seminar and follow-up for 40 women.

We plan to provide Virtues training and adult literacy along with the business skills. A woman cannot run a successful business if she cannot read and write and do simple arithmetic. The Virtues will enable groups to work together in harmony and resolve conflicts peacefully and productively.