Assessing the Impact of Savings Groups and the What’s in Your Hands Model on the Lives of the Rural Poor in Rwanda: A Biblical Approach of Sustainable Asset-Based Community Development

by Erisa Hussey Mutabazi
June 1st, 2020

The purpose of this project is to explore and assess the impact of Savings Groups and the What’s in Your Hands (WIYH) models in the lives of the rural poor in Rwanda. The assumption is made that this model is a biblical approach of sustainable Asset-based Community Development. This study was conducted within the HOPE International savings groups ministry network in Rwanda, with reference to other HOPE International network programs in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Burundi. I personally conducted investigations and collected data from savings groups members, saving group leaders, as well as local church leaders who have promoted savings groups within their local congregations. Data for this project was collected from 336 respondents, including 291 who responded through the written questionnaires and 45 who participated in 6 focus group discussion sessions. Investigations and data collection for this study were conducted with the support of research assistants. Both the Appreciative Inquiry and the Asset-based Community Development approaches were utilized and discussed. Results of this study showed that the Savings Groups and WIYH model have made significant impact on the lives of the rural poor in Rwanda in the domains of financial inclusion and education, increase in household income, women’s empowerment, food security, asset acquisition and ownership, and community participation.