Food Security & Livelihoods

Being a single mother of four is never easy, especially in communities where economic opportunities are scarce and the cost of living continues to climb. For Messie who lives in Kailahun District, every day used to feel like a mountain to climb. “I have faced countless challenges to provide for my children and support them through school,” she recalls, her voice a mixture of strength and the memory of hardship.
After the death of her husband, Messie found herself alone, struggling to make ends meet. With no steady income and four mouths to feed, every school term brought the same fear: How would she afford the fees, books, and uniforms to keep her children in school? That fear became reality when her children were on the verge of dropping out. It was a heartbreaking moment no parent should ever have to face.

The Power of Village Savings and Loan Associations

But just when things seemed most uncertain, a lifeline appeared in the form of the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA), introduced to her community by ChildFund and its local partner, Ndomakeh. Messie attended a meeting out of curiosity, and what she discovered would change her life.
The VSLA was more than a savings group; it was a grassroots financial system built by the community, for the community. Members contributed weekly savings into a shared pool and could take out low-interest loans to support household needs or start small businesses. Alongside these services, they received practical training in money management, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

Messie saw an opportunity. She applied for her first modest loan and used it to expand her roadside trading business. Bit by bit, she increased her inventory, adding everyday staples like cooking oil, rice, soap, and matches. Word of her growing shop spread, and soon she had a steady stream of customers. What started small soon became something sustainable.
Through the training sessions, she learned how to keep records, reinvest profits, and manage risk. Most importantly, she was no longer at the mercy of predatory microcredit agents who demanded high interest rates and quick repayments. With the VSLA, she had a fair system, a support network, and the freedom to grow at her own pace.
Today, Messie’s business is thriving. She is not only self-reliant but has become a pillar in her community. She’s gone from borrower to lender, offering support and advice to other women hoping to follow in her footsteps.

“People admire my success and ask how I did it,” Messie shares proudly. “The VSLA and the business training are magic.”
Her children are back in school and doing well, and she no longer worries about the next term. Her journey has shifted from survival to stability, and even inspiration. Other women now look to her as an example of what’s possible when opportunity meets determination.
Messie is quick to share the credit. She thanks ChildFund and Ndomakeh Federation for bringing this opportunity to her doorstep. “They’ve brought more than just a program,” she says. “They’ve brought dignity, confidence, and real change.”

More Than 70 VSLA Groups and Growing

Over the past 2 years, ChidFund and Ndomakeh have worked with communities to establish over 70 VSLAs in Kailahun district. Through these groups, women and men have been able to set up more businesses and get a return on investment. They are now able to pay their children’s school charges seamlessly, buy learning materials