Today’s story Under the Jubilee Tree tells of radical change for Mexican women through savings groups
A Jubilee Delegation from the U.S. gathered at a table in the side room of a restaurant with Zapatista sympathies. Gathered with us were Gloria Gonzales of the San Cristobal Jubilee Circle and a couple of women who created a feminist community together (group of ten, in this case). When they first gathered, their purpose was to overcome their feelings of powerlessness as poor women in patriarchal structures of home and society.
As they shared their needs and the actions they could take together, they hit on the idea of a savings group of their own. They’d save a few pesos per week to add to the $200 of seed money supplied by Jubilee.
Imagine your own life without any savings. Add to that, imagine that no bank is interested in opening an account with you because you’re too small and poor to meet their criteria.
Every week the women met in solidarity, shared life and ideas, and added a few pesos to their “bank.” If one of them had a need for a small loan, that need was shared and a loan agreed upon along with the time when the loan was due. Because of their supportive relationships, none of them ever defaulted.
As one of the women shared her experience, she glowed, and in excitement said, “It’s transforming.” Such is the amazing change as these women discovered that they did have power and could take financial responsibility in their lives.
Thank you, Jubilee donors, for supplying the seed money for this ministry that has now become three savings groups and counting. Men have asked to join and are now included.
