In order to make up for my lapse of several days, I think I might be able to make things right somehow by blogging multiple times in one day...

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to meet one of our program participants here in Tanzania, Bariki Tarimo. Tarimo has been involved in the Floresta program since the beginning, even before the beginning, since he and other community leaders were helpful to me when we were just in the early stages, doing research, making contact with the community, getting all our legal requirements in order etc. He also became a member of one of the first savings and loans groups that was formed. Since that time, just two years ago, the number of community savings and loans groups has grown rapidly, til now there are over 40 groups. Each group makes its own savings, and uses those savings to make loans to group members, and as a result the savings grows, yielding interest for each member. Late last year (2008), these savings and loans groups, with Floresta help, formed an umbrella association which allows them to consolidate their savings, make larger loans, and hire one employee to do administration. Now, one of the first recipients of an umbella association loan is the same Bariki Tarimo, who I met in the market with his 'new' truck. He is using this vehicle to buy forage grasses and transport them to his village and neighbouring villages where he re-sells them at a profit.

Bariki Tarimo and his 'new' truck purchased with a loan from the local umbrella association of savings groups.