From a Traditional to a Cash Economy

The Toto Saving Club Programme (TSCP)is based in Mombasa, Kenya and covers several districts in the Coast Province, Kenya.

The primary aim of the TSCP is to introduce women and men to banking through group, rather than individual, savings efforts.Secondly it aims to assist groups to accumulate savings which can be used as collateral to get credit from banks.

The scheme identifies target areas by the small scale entrepreneurs living in them. Generally the people in the target areas are engaged in running small businesses which bring in a daily income. What they lack is a means of saving and using such income in a manner that will improve their future earnings.

TSCP works by way of Savings Clubs set up in different target areas. The Clubs work independent of each other and are linked directly to TSCP, as the main operating unit.

TSCP has its own system of selecting loanees. When the target areas are identified TSCP popularises its savings and credit scheme in the entire area. This is done by way of a door-to-door campaign done by TSCP Fueld Supervisors. While doing this popularising campaign, the Field Supervisors also carry out a survey to learn more about the people in the target village.

After the survey is conducted, the target group is informed of the proposed scheme and those interested are enroled into the Savings Club. This enables the setting up of the Club which will serve as the operating unit. When this first step in organising is completed, the Field Supervisors have to motivate the members to keep the club active.

This motivation is primarily done through what the TSCP calls "Village Training". This requires the office bearers of the club, the President, Secretary and Treasurer, along with the members of the newly formed club to attend two full day training meetings held on two consecutive days.The training focuses on leadership, record-keeping and business management.

This "Village Training" lays the foundation for the members to independently and efficiently carry out the saving scheme while managing their businesses in a way the fullest profits can be earned.

The new club then buys a specially prepared Cash Record Book from TSCP which is used for book keeping records. Book keeping is also specially designed to accomodate the illiterate members, who are many, by way of a method using colours and symbols.