Talking about Economics

Across cultures, talk of money often creates unease and conflict. But how do you talk about money when there is little or no money to discuss? We just finished our Economic Empowerment module, where we encouraged our study participants to budget, prioritize, and if possible, save for the future. Consisting of three sessions, we started off our first session with an introduction to the program and an overview of ways to maximize local resources in order to become economically empowered. Our second session focused on prioritizing, spending money wisely, and taught basic skills of budgeting. The last session of the Economics module taught participants how to save and included a local loan representative to answer any questions from the audience as well as assist anyone who wished to open an account or apply for a loan.

And the overall reaction to our program has been a success! Despite the limited resources, individuals have been receptive to the skills we are teaching. The concepts of prioritizing and spending on needs versus wants are skills that incorporate all members, regardless of how limited their income might be. However, the idea of saving for the future creates more of a problem when asking those who are struggling to pay for basic of needs to cut back even more. Despite this, those with very limited income are still interested in learning about savings, applying for loans, or opening a bank account. I believe this interest is rooted in the hope that at some point in their lives, they will have the resources and then be able to use the skills they are learning.

While attendance during our second session was limited due to a village funeral and a “harambee” (local fundraiser), our attendance for the third session on economic empowerment was very promising. Several participants who missed the second session expressed regret and requested copies of our budgeting sheet handouts so they could practice budgeting at home on their own. This example of interest and initiative really give us hope for the upcoming two modules on Emotional Support and Learning about HIV/AIDS as a family.

We believe one of the most engaging and valuable aspects of each session are the family skits, which model negative and positive family interactions, as well as family communication activities. The skits give families the opportunity to see that while negative interactions may be taking place in their homes now, we are teaching skills that if practiced, could make their families happier. We are lucky that our logistics coordinators also happen to be very skilled actors! The family communication activities then give our participants to opportunity to practice using these kills to improve their household interactions. Education through modeling is an important teaching method throughout READY and we’ve had feedback from participants that they can’t believe how closely our skits reflect their family interactions. Most likely because they are developed and acted by community members themselves.

This is an English translation of one of the skits we use to begin a discussion on the ways in which gender roles and culture influence finances and family relationships.

These next two weeks will focus on giving and receiving emotional support -- how to share feelings and to be supportive within your family, and skills to cope with stress. We’re halfway there in climbing our ladder of family communication.

Jessica & John