This blog post was written by Megan Henderson, our Communications & Events Manager, and Laura Palmer, our Digital Engagement & Social Media Manager.
A well for water at a Savings Group meeting in South Sudan.
What comes to mind when thinking of Global Earth Day? Most people consider the use of plastics, climate change and our effect on the planet. But the true heart of the message is to honour the achievements of the environmental movement and build awareness to protect natural resources for future generations.
Five Talents may not be the first organisation that comes to mind when considering this call to action, but our partners and Savings Group members are some of the most affected by climate change. Many Savings Group members in eastern and central Africa depend on seasonal rains to support farming, which in turn feeds their families and assists their communities.
According to the UNFCCC who recently commissioned a report dedicated exclusively to Africa, changing precipitation patterns and more extreme weather are threatening human health and safety, food and water security and socio-economic development. Rains have become less predictable, and even worse, rains oversaturate the ground and cause flooding which can destroy homes and livelihoods.
Savings Groups are part of the solution.
In Groups, communities come together and save their money - enabling them to better cope with emergencies like flooding or drought. Group members often invest in rainwater tanks and solar panels. With business training, many members also diversify their businesses away from farming so they have additional sources of income, vital for when farms are flooded or arid.
The effect of Savings Groups can be seen through people like Anthony.
Rainwater storage tank in Tanzania.
Anthony lives in Kericho, in Kenya - a semi-arid region which experiences prolonged periods of drought. Many people in the region keep cattle and have to walk long distances in the dry seasons to search for water for their livestock and for domestic use. Thanks to joining a Savings Group, Anthony has addressed this challenge for himself and his whole community.
Anthony took a loan and used it to dig a well on his plot of land, buy two rainwater storage tanks and a small pump. Now, he has water all year round and sells it to his neighbours in the dry season, meaning they no longer have to trek long distances in search of water. Incidents of water-borne diseases have reduced now that the community has access to clean drinking water. In addition, more children have been going to school as they no longer have to spend their days herding cattle to distant water-points.
In one of our newest programmes in Tsavo, Kenya, communities are not just saving for rainwater tanks, they are becoming conservation experts. The Savings Groups established in Tsavo are among a National park with an abundance of wildlife, but the largest among them are elephants! While we often think of elephants as gentle giants, they can be destructive to crops and damage homes, which often creates conflict with the people residing in their proximity.
The new programme in Tsavo is supporting communities to live alongside elephants and support community conservation efforts and soon, climate-smart agriculture training will begin in the programme too. The programme already supports 1,600 members but our team in Kenya hope to see the programme grow to over 3,600.
As you celebrate Earth Day this year, there are many worthy environmental charities creating a better, brighter world. Savings Groups don’t just support protecting our environment, they can create resilience to environmental challenges too, so please consider supporting Five Talents to further this vision.