Tzedek Project Information

When running an educational programme, your personal experience is an important starting point, but it is also important that participants/listeners have the opportunity to learn about the practical development work that Tzedek is undertaking. That is why we have included these project information sheets.

The project information should be turned into a form of story which answers several questions -

* Who are the people we are working with? (Where, how many, social circumstances etc)

* What are the problems facing them? (and if they have multiple problems, why they have chosen to focus on this particular issue.)

* How have they organised themselves to overcome these problems? (The kinds of locally based organisation they have set up.)

* How Tzedek is supporting them? (Mostly we provide money as a partnership, to enable local people to solve their own problems.)

* What are the outcomes? (Most projects you will be talking about have already seen some positive outcomes.)

After the 'story' you may wish to mention that there are other Tzedek projects in similar fields (info on the sheets). Wider development issues may be your starting point - mentioning the importance of education, for example, and how education leads to reduction in poverty - and then moving on to the practical example of Tzedek's work. It is equally valid to start with the project story and then move on to wider issues.

In addition to the sheets, for many projects there are photos available from Tzedek which bring the projects to life, and articles in past Newsletters. As the Tzedek web site comes on line, then more information will become available. The sheets also give other sources of information if you want to investigate the background to the topic further.

Microcredit

Microcredit is a form of non- institutional lending, whereby small loans are made by an organisation to individuals and repaid in instalments over a short period. Microcredit is often administered through grassroots networks of self-help groups who select the beneficiaries and oversee loan repayments and funded by local community development organisations or NGO's. A small amount of interest is charged to cover the administration costs and repayments are channelled into a revolving fund that will be used to issue further loans as funds become available.

Successful microcredit projects often involve a combination of credit and savings. When borrowers are obliged to set aside a minimum amount of savings on a weekly or a monthly basis, this savings component reinforces the discipline of the borrower to make regular repayments of the borrowed money. It also helps create a sense of 'ownership' on the part of the borrowers that is vital in ensuring the scheme's sustainability. Group-based lending helps often marginalized groups gain access to credit, as the risk is shared enabling those without material collateral to get funds as a group. The group collectively works to ensure all loans are repaid on time so that other members of the group are not deprived of credit if a member defaults. Experience with microcredit has shown that the poor people can be disciplined borrowers and savers, in Bangladesh where microcredit started over 30 years ago repayment rates are usually over 99%.

Sangbit Mushroom Production Income Generation Programme, West Bengal, India

Tzedek gave a grant to Sangbit, a local development organisation who have been organising self-help groups, educational, health and agricultural activities in West Bengal since 1986. The Mushroom production income generation programme is designed to generate income and raise nutrition levels of the families of poor landless agricultural labourers. These people had survived by working on other people's land for irregular daily wages- they can expect to earn $1 per day for maybe 180 days per year. This income is insufficient to support a family in the villages, so the children also become engaged in work from a young age, in reference to attending school. The Tzedek grant was used to establish a revolving microcredit fund and arrange training for the beneficiaries.

Each farmer received training on the cultivation of mushrooms, food preparation and marketing (3 days a week, 3 hours a day for 12 days) and a loan of 3000 Rupees for seeds and equipment. Mushrooms were chosen as the production needs no loan it can be done from their homes so they can do it simultaneously with their existing work. Illiteracy is no bar to learning how to produce mushrooms and besides generating income they also provide nutritious food for the families. Farmers formed a cooperative to sell the mushrooms at local markets enabling each to earn approximately 1500 Rupees clear profit per month. Due to the success of the project the farmers are now keen to diversify and develop their products and expand the programme to more beneficiaries.

Other Tzedek Funded Microcredit Programmes:

* ERDS Gajole Project, India

* Ashram International Milk Chilling, Kaliro Dairy Association, Nepal.

Tzedek Criteria:

* Relief of Poverty- projects offers the opportunity to generate income at individual, family and community level.

* Small Scale- the money from credit and savings programmes is administered through one organisation to individuals or groups within the community. The repayments and management of the funds are overseen at a local community level making it easier for Tzedek to identify the individual beneficiaries and the progress of the project.

* Self Help- individual beneficiaries are in control after being provided with training and tools to start up or develop their ventures so determine the success of the project.

* Sustainable- the ethos of microcredit that all money is put back into the system and ploughed back out to beneficiaries enables the initial funds to be accessible to more people and so make a sustainable difference.

Useful Resources for Further Information:

* Websites: Tzedek, Uunicef, Oxfam, Action Aid, Fair Trade Organisation.

* Footsteps newsletter - home page www.tilz.info. This site is run by a Christian organisation so certain information is specifically from that perspective but it also has some very useful information. Issue on micro-credit on http://www.tilz.info/footstepscd/PDF/ENGLISH/FS26.pdf .

* Local/ University Library

Education

Education is not only a fundamental human right it also saves lives- each year nearly 12 million children under 5 die as a direct result of avoidable infectious diseases associated with poverty. For each year spent by mothers in primary schools children's risk of premature death due to disease reduces by around 8 %. But in developing counties education is often not an option due to the cost both in lost earnings and school fees. Education gives people new skills and often vocational training empowering them and opening up opportunities. Uneducated children become illiterate adults earning low, if any wages unable to provide for their children so continuing the cycle of poverty.

IPA Apprenticeship Scheme, Zimbabwe

Education can be extremely costly and is an extra expense that many families cannot afford, Inter Country Peoples Aid (IPA) offered a solution via an apprenticeship scheme which would give individuals tools and cover expenses to enable individuals to attend college and receive training around Harare. The aim of the scheme was to raise the economic potential and standing of the participants and their community. Individuals were carefully selected to take part in the scheme, and IPA followed students' progress both to provide support and ensure funds were being used efficiently. The funds provided by Tzedek were to cover expenses including tuition fees, transport, stationary, essential clothing, tools so that individuals were able to successfully engage in courses. By providing individuals with access to education and training they have an increased chance of employment so helping to improve the quality of their own and their families life.

Other Tzedek Funded Educational Programmes:

* Masaisai Trust, Zimbabwe

* Kumali Modern Prepatory School, Uganda.

* Spiti- Rinchen Zangpo Society for Spiti Development, India

Tzedek Criteria:

* Self Help- students are in control of their own success they are provided with the opportunity, all the necessary tools and direct support from IPA when they need it.

* Small Scale- through working with local small projects such as IPA funds can be directed to ensure the type or training/ education most beneficial to that particular community is given.

* Relief of Poverty- education has a direct relation to the quality of life so by helping to provide education Tzedek works with communities to help individuals break away from the cycle of poverty.

Useful Resources for Further Information:

* Websites: Tzedek, World Health Organisation, Oxfam, Unicef, United Nations, Action Aid, local national papers websites.

* Adult Education ParticipatoryLearning & Action is covered in http://www.tilz.info/footstepscd/PDF/ENGLISH/FS29.pdf .

* www.reflect-action.org - primarily adult literacy.

* Local/ University Library.