This programme aims at economically empowering beneficiaries of other St. Martin programmes by providing savings and credit facilities that respond to their needs.

Major activities:

• The programme invests in training its clients on issues of resource management and project planning, record keeping, small income generating projects and others. Through training, clients are sensitised on how best to invest the loan and manage the project income so that the loan repayment is not a burden.

• The programme sensitises the clients on the importance of saving. It offers savings facilities to the groups for each member to save; however deposits and withdrawals of savings can only be done through the group

• The programme offer loan facilities to clients to start small income generating projects.

• Programme staff make project follow up visits to loaners. Though these visit, staff asses project progress and offer advice on challenges the clients are experiencing in the process of managing their activities.

Lucy is a mother of a child living with disabilities. The socio-economic status of the family was poor due to the environmental conditions of her locality but also due to the implications of having to care for her beloved but disabled child. Through the self-help group formed by a volunteer of the Community Programme of People living with Disabilities she was able to get access to the services of the Community Programme for Savings and Micro Credit. The trainings have empowered her on a small income generating project and with a loan she started an egg selling business which over time developed into an egg selling shop. The child for whom the loan was taken is living happily; able to access medical care, proper nutrition and above all is able to receive the love from a mother whom is happy to be able to provide for all the needs and her own day to day living.