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In Their Own Hands: How Savings Groups Are Revolutionizing Development

Jeffrey Ashe (Goodreads Author),

Kyla Jagger Neilan (Goodreads Author),

Frances Moore Lappé (Foreward)

4.23 · Rating details · 22 ratings · 5 reviews

Two and a half billion people worldwide, most of them desperately poor villagers, need a better way to save and to borrow. Even the most innovative banking institutions can't reach them; savings groups can. In savings groups, members save what they can in a communal pot and loan their growing fund to each other for their short-term needs. Jeffrey Ashe and Kyla Neilan illus ...more

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Paperback, 190 pages

Published September 15th 2014 by Berrett-Koehler Publishers

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Sep 22, 2014 Mal Warwick rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nonfiction

THE NEW BIBLE FOR WORK WITH POOR PEOPLE.

In an even reasonably rational world, In Their Own Hands would serve as the Bible for development professionals and the basic textbook for students, philanthropists, faith-based activists, and business executives who aspire to improve the lives of poor people. Though this book advocates a particular methodology to promote financial inclusion, it’s the best overall introduction I’ve ever read to working with poor people in the Global South. If you have any ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Kelly Stenhoff added it

I’ve heard it said that purest and most sustaining form of community development is when an impulse to do service comes to you as an implementer/outside agent and you serve as nothing more than conduit for this energy. Ego or strong self-identification with the project does not enter the picture. When the ribbon is cut, the ululations ring out, and the dancing begins your name is not mentioned. The community takes full credit and full responsibility. You may be present at the ceremony but at som I’ve heard it said that purest and most sustaining form of community development is when an impulse to do service comes to you as an implementer/outside agent and you serve as nothing more than conduit for this energy. Ego or strong self-identification with the project does not enter the picture. When the ribbon is cut, the ululations ring out, and the dancing begins your name is not mentioned. The community takes full credit and full responsibility. You may be present at the ceremony but at some point the planned project reached a stage in which it took on a life of its own. No one knows you had anything to do with it in the beginning.

It is in this spirit that Jeffrey Ashe approaches his life’s work. Through patient observation, protracted learning, humility and sensitive light-handed intervention, Mr. Ashe has contributed to the design of a powerful savings group approach that is community-led, replicable, and scalable by virtue of participants who believe in it so greatly that they take it up on themselves to spread it. In “In Their Own Hands,” Mr. Ashe takes us takes us on a journey from his initial spark of interest in the power of savings groups on to discovery and inquiry of active savings group initiatives and then his own leading of Saving for Change for Oxfam and Freedom from Hunger initiatives. He shows us through case studies and anecdote how the guiding principles of Savings for Change create success and he demonstrates us how the project evaluation was structured to gauge impact according to the participants’ own definition of wealth.

This is an excellent book for those interested in community-led, strengths-based development as a counterpoint to more conventional models and microfinance. “In Their Own Hands” is written with humility and a refreshing honesty. More than once it is stated that the sole act of joining savings groups will not lift many out of poverty. While this is true, the financial function is only a small part of the equation. The savings groups are in fact foundational. Therein lies their power and the true extent of their impact. They provide a pre-existing, strong, inclusive network of people who share a bond of trust and deep commitment to their communities that can serve as a basis for other development initiatives to latch onto for increased effectiveness. The approach carries many intangible benefits that extend beyond financial transactions such as social cohesion, political action, raising the profile of women’s voices, nurturing leaders and building trusting relationships. I find this heartening and compelling.
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Aug 31, 2014 Kris rated it really liked it

Shelves: misc, nonfiction, environment

GOODREADS WINNER

I am not sure what I expected when I received this book. I suppose I was thinking of lots of great narrative stories of how the idea of a savings group that starts from actual savings rather than debt can change lives. I did get that, which is awesome. But this book is more than just stories - it is action. How these lives have been changed, and what steps can be enacted to follow in Mr. Ashe's footsteps. It is a how-to for those in development who specialize in microfinance and

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