A boma In Mbuyuni village with a stove and a solar system installed in our collaboration with ADRA 

In 2013, the expert women installing the International Collaborative stoves began the Monduli Pastoralist Women’s Organization (MPWO).

They continue to run their successful ongoing cattle fattening business.

Today, as women become ICSEE installers in each new village, they also join the MPWO.

In 2018, we began our collaboration with the Global Fund for Widows, and have put together eleven widow's groups.

Led by Mesha Singolyo, an outstanding organizing team stays close to the women, and often attends the groups’ weekly meetings.

All eleven groups are thriving. Each group has livestock businesses and enjoys the benefits of collaboration and managing their own community banks.

Mesha Singolyo (seen here dressed in red) with women from the Widow's Groups in Longido

These businesses are particularly valuable because unlike so many enterprises, the buyers are outsiders--- from the meat food chain. This means that the profits from sales come from outside, and is real enrichment for the women’s villages.

In all the villages, these groups benefit from the support of men who respect what the women are doing. Seasoned herdsmen form advisory committees and share advice on the livestock businesses. I am happy to see high quality organizing practices that foster community development possibilities.

The meeting in the village of Nanja with widows from Nanja and Mtimoja 

In recognition of how well they manage their money and businesses on a cooperative basis, we decided to award grants to the MPWO and each Widow's Group.

The groups do not need the grants to survive, but we present them as recognition for their strength and success,

We want to encourage them with this honor, as they continue to thrive. It is a good thing to give a boost when things are going well.

The ICSEE hosted celebrations in Longido , Nanja and Losirwa with four women’s groups at each. Ms. Rose Mhina, Head of the Community Development Office of the District Government, was Featured Speaker at the two sessions in Monduli District. She is very supportive of the work we are doing with the women in her district.

Kisioki and I have I've been visiting all our water sanitation systems.

We want to see how the water managers are doing and we're checking on the systems themselves.

We had good discussions with all and replaced one solar-powered pump.

The rains are heavy now. When women who have ways to collect rain water get safe water that way, there is less demand for our chlorinated water.

However, we found that where there is less rain, as in the village of Oltukai, in the Rift Valley, the system is still used at full capacity every morning.

As I shared in the last newsletter, we will soon begin stove distribution and training for eight villages at the edge of Wildlife Management Areas.

This is in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund, and we look forward to sharing more with you soon.

Making a real difference