The impact of Self-Help Groups in Kenya

In Kenya, Help a Child works with Self-Help Groups (SHGs). These groups exist within communities to support each other. They enable people to save money and issue loans to group members. In this way, opportunities arise for themselves and their families to start a (small) business, pay medical bills, or pay for education.

In 2024, the team of Help a Child Kenya supported the on-site strengthening of Self-Help Groups to ensure their smooth functioning and addressed their challenges in running the groups.

Impact in 2024
72 Self Help Groups were sensitized on financial literacy, goal setting, and income generating activities. This led to an improvement in SHG capital from KES 6,237,829 (€ 41,586) in 2023 to KES 9,732,957 (€ 64,887) in October 2024. The group members’ involvement in savings and loan uptake and the initiation of individual Income Generating Activities (IGAs) has improved the care of children and the provision of their children’s needs. The programme also facilitated refresher training for 158 SHG leaders on record keeping, conflict management, and goal setting. This has helped them to enhance their record-keeping skills and the development of smart goals amongst SHGs.