b'I dont want my children to suffer the way I have suffered. I will do everything I can so my children can go to university, and travel, and learn many things and become good people. They are proud of me.Adjo, Femmes Riches CollectiveFemmes Riche CollectiveAfter meeting Olivia, the Project Managerwho sold on credit to a customer who then for the Womens Empowerment Collectives,couldnt pay, leaving the seller with no income. and learning about the financial support andBecause many of the women cannot read training available through the programme, smallor write, the use of picture cards makes the business owner, Elisabeth, decided to gathertraining sessions accessible to all.her own collective together.A lady wearing a red hair net, Adjo, tells us how She knew there were other women in her areaher life has changed since she joined Femmes who needed help and support and she gatheredRiche. She is a mother of two teenagers, and them together to tell them about the benefitsit has been just the three of them since the of joining her new collective, Femmes Riche.children were very small. Trying to find enough Now the groups President, Elisabeth, believesmoney to pay for food for her family every day in positive thinking and by naming the grouphas been a constant struggle. She has a small Femmes Riche, translated as Rich Women, shehair braiding and wig business but to help hopes that their dreams will come true, andher make ends meet she finds work washing they will no longer have to struggle. laundry for other families. Until now Adjo didnt have the funds to build up her business or buy Some of the women she invited were afraid tonew stock. She had no friends or family whom join at first, as they had experiences with othershe could ask for help and she was trapped by organisations that had let them down, buther situation, unable to move forward.because of their trust in Elisabeth, they decided to join. Before receiving their first loan theyIn just a short time Adjos life has improved. began 12 weeks of training, which gave themShe has restocked her supplies and has enough increased confidence and the knowledge theymoney to buy food for her children every day needed to invest in their businesses. and has started to make some savings. The One of the training sessions the women havemost important thing to her is that she has found the most useful is on the pitfalls of sellingbecome part of a close-knit group of women on credit. The lesson is taught using laminatedwhom she can rely on for support when she picture cards which tell the story of a womanneeds it and doesnt feel alone anymore.'