SHE SOARS: How Youth Savings and Loan Associations (YSLAs) support gender equality
All photos: Robert Ekinu
The Sexual and reproductive Health and Economic empowerment Supporting Out-of-school Adolescent girls’ Rights and Skills (SHE SOARS) project aims to improve access to youth-friendly health services, information and life skills, particularly for young women and girls aged 10-19 who are not in school in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
This group has typically been left out of traditional health programming yet has some of the greatest needs and least access to Sexual and Reproductive Health.
A key pillar of the SHE SOARS project are Youth Savings and Loans Associations (YSLAs). By participating in YSLAs, youth learn responsibility, financial planning and management skills, entrepreneurship and life skills that serve them now and in the future.
When young people are involved in the program, they are able to:
- Receive training
- Develop financial literacy skills
- Work together to save and loan money amongst members
Many young women start their own businesses while participating in the YSLAs, increasing their financial opportunities and decision-making power.
For example, through income-generating activities like jewellery-making, tailoring and small retail shops, young mothers can access products and services they need to support their health and that of their children. This change positively impacts themselves, their families and communities as they are able to make healthier choices over their own bodies and lives.
Why YSLAs are critical to change
The youth population is growing rapidly worldwide. The United Nations estimates that by 2030 the number of youth will have grown by seven per cent to nearly 1.3 billion people.
This growing population comes with many economic opportunities. More and more youth engage in productive activities, as well as face multiple challenges (such as a lack of access, ownership and decision-making power).
While many women and girls, including young mothers, need greater access to funds to meet basic needs, including food, education and health, youth are more financially excluded than adults.
One of the proven ways to improve young people’s access to financial opportunities, services and skills is through YSLAs.
Building young people’s capacity to save and invest is a long-term process. Groups meet weekly to learn and discuss lessons with the guidance of peer educators, take on leadership roles, and develop skills that prepare them for life transitions.
All of us are young people, we respect one another. When we gather, we talk about the savings we are creating. When one of us faces hardship, we can tell our friends about the challenges, then usually we put our resources together to help each other.
– Tryness Banda, 19, YSLA member in Mambwe, Zambia
A typical YSLA group has 15 to 25 members. Youth learn to save regularly, access loans and share-out savings and profits according to each person’s contributions. The project does not provide money to lend to YSLA members, rather it provides comprehensive training and skills development.
Youth learn a savings culture and independence. Not only do many YSLA members start their own small businesses and earn a profit, but early reports suggest that the project is changing their behaviours and attitudes. Young people in YSLAs feel empowered economically and socially.
How access to savings and loans leads to greater equality
In response, CARE and partners are creating and supporting YSLAs to deliver skills-based training and increase income opportunities that build young people’s resilience. Through YSLAs, young women and girls gain greater financial freedom and decision-making power as they learn to manage their savings, invest in income-generating activities, and make financial choices for themselves and their families.
YSLAs are based on CARE’s Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) model that have been implemented successfully with youth in a variety of contexts. Based on CARE’s best practice, the YSLAs are being linked to the SHE SOARS girls’ and role model boys’ groups that are a key part of the project to improve young people’s access to health services and information. In addition, YSLA members are being trained on how to create income-generating activities that are climate resilient to ensure sustainable employment for themselves in times of drought, floods and other environmental challenges.
YSLAs are critical to:
- Equip youth with life skills that enable them to live productive and responsible lives
- Increase financial security so that youth can meet their needs and those of their children
- Improve young people’s access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Video: Ufulu Studio creator/CARE Canada/Fairpicture
SHE SOARS YSLAs by the numbers
After getting involved in the group, I thought about becoming an entrepreneur, so I went ahead and started a business. I got a loan of 100 Kwacha. I order wigs to sell. I sold my first wig and managed to enroll my child in school.
– Tryness Banda, 19, YSLA member in Mambwe, Zambia
The project aims to engage over 17,000 girls and boys in YSLAs over the seven-year life of the project. So far, CARE and partners have mobilized 4,210 young people in Zambia, 2,668 in Kenya and 1,855 in Uganda respectively to form YSLA groups.