::News Flash::

Cooperatives

Please watch the following short videos

1. TurtleWill's Cooperative Programs - 3.8megs

TURTLEWILL'S MICRO-CREDIT FOOD COOPERATIVES
Interviews with Tuareg nomads, Niger

2. "Cooperatives Count" Interview with Fati Koumalin and Azara Ahmed, Tuareg nomads Timouloulout, Niger - 4.3megs

3. "Cooperatives Matter" Interview with Rhaissa Abardak,
Tuareg President of Food, Sewing and Handicrafts cooperatives Tamazalak, Niger - 5.7megs

TURTLEWILL COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS

TurtleWill's Community Cooperative Programs are designed to teach nomadic men and women new skills and generate income. For the women who participate, this is often their first experience in contributing economically to the family welfare. The results are a newfound self-empowerment, increased familial respect and an ability to shape their communities.

Micro-Credit Food Cooperatives

TurtleWill Food Cooperatives have three objectives:
   • To make food easily accessible in the remote areas of the bush
   • To educate women in simple business practices
   • To be reimbursable to TurtleWill for reinvestment in other projects

This year Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize for his far-sighted work with micro-credit loans. TurtleWill has invested in micro-credit since 2005. We currently have 62 food cooperatives in Niger.

The TurtleWill Food Cooperatives Program started in 2005 as a way to make food readily available in remote areas for the nomadic populations. Prior to the presence of our Food Co-ops, the nomads had to travel great distances to a major town in order to obtain food for their families, often at considerable expense and risk of exploitation. The Food Co-ops became increasingly important during the droughts of 2005 and 2006 when the nomadic herders were gathered at wells waiting hours to take their turns to water their animals. If food were not available nearby, feeding their families would have become almost impossible due to the great distances required.

The request for a Food Cooperative is initially made to TurtleWill by the representatives of an existing local women’s group or association. These women's groups have been formed generally as a local support system to create tiny emergency cash reserves which anyone of the members can use if the situation warrants. Groups can vary in size greatly from as few as eight members to more than 30 members.

The Food Co-ops are run on a micro-credit basis, with monthly reimbursements to TurtleWill over a 12 month period. At the end of the 12 months the Cooperative becomes self-sustaining.

TurtleWill’s initial dollar amount of the loan to each Women’s Group is the same, no matter how many members will be part of the new Food Cooperative. The sales markup is generally 25-30%.

In 2006 we allocated approximately 10% of donations to our micro-credit Food Cooperatives, where contributions work the hardest! We were able to recycle monthly micro-credit repayments into funding an additional five cooperatives, a training program for our Cooperative managers, more dormitory construction, another well, a scholarship program for 12 students and the purchase of a jackhammer and generator for well digging. These repayments will continue into 2007 creating even more funding opportunities!

In April, 2006 we conducted a workshop for the Co-op Managers teaching them the basic skills of coop management. We currently have 62 food cooperatives operating in Niger.

The many ways this program serves the nomads!
In November, 2006 while in Niger we interviewed several of our Food Cooperative presidents and members. It was extremely gratifying to learn the many ways this program serves the nomads and the ability of these cooperatives to make a difference in each participating member’s life.

“With the Food Co-op Program we have learned to manage and run a cooperative. Our husbands see us as contributors, not just part of the household. Life in general in the villages has improved. This is new”. Rhaissa Abardek Tamazalak, Niger

“Really, it's almost impossible to explain the effects of the Cooperatives, they are so great. Now the men are becoming more reliant on us as they see how productive we have become. We have gained so much importance.” We are not from here. We have come on behalf of the women of our village Timouloulout to request that we be part of the TurtleWill Food Cooperatives Program.” Fati Koumalin, Timouloulout, Niger

“The food and sewing cooperatives for women are very important, especially for those women who have no husbands, or whose husbands are sick. Now it's the women who go into town and buy goods.” Azara Ahmed, Mizene Niger

All the women interviewed also stated that the most important objective of the Food Co-ops is to place food within easy reach. This alleviates the need to travel all the way to Agadez or Arlit, which for many can represent a round trip journey of over 75 miles. This can be a great hardship for herders who must keep constant vigilance over their animals. Particularly in times of drought this important proximity of food provides an immeasurable psychological reassurance and sense of economic security. Each family knows that in emergencies food can be taken on credit. Simply put, the Food Co-op acts as the small “corner store” where everyone knows and trusts each other. Credit is readily given because only trustworthy individuals are invited to join a cooperative. Generally the Food Cooperative serves a nucleus of 25-30 local families. Another acknowledged advantage of the Co-ops is that although the women do not yet draw cash benefits from the Co-ops, each member purchases directly from the Co-op at just above the wholesale cost at which the goods were initially purchased. Most women stated that they prefer to reinvest their profits to grow the business sufficiently. In the future they will consider sharing some of the profits.

Monthly reimbursements to TurtleWill are reinvested in additional Food Cooperatives or other projects.
Budget:
Currently each Food Cooperative costs $480 and is reimbursable to TurtleWill at $40 per month over 12 months.

Click Here to view the map of Niger Food Coops

Sewing Cooperatives
Initiated in 2002, these Sewing Cooperatives include a three month training program to teach nomadic women to sew with treadle sewing machines. TurtleWill provides three machines, a tailor instructor and enough materials for each of the women to learn basic skills, as well as make a garment that they can sell. The clothing they learn to make is that which is worn locally by the surrounding nomads. Generally there are 10-15 women per cooperative who participate.

With the money from their first sales the women can buy more fabric and the project becomes self-sustaining. The sewing machines remain the property of each of the Cooperatives and remain on site for ongoing use by the local women.

To date TurtleWill has created 19 Sewing Cooperatives in Niger and one in Mali, training over 225 women and girls. Proof of success of this program is indicated by the several requests from Sewing Co-ops for a higher level training, which we are currently offering.

We now run sewing cooperatives for men as well, including higher level training.

Budget:
Sewing cooperative including machines, fabric, and the 3 month salary for the tailor: $1100

Click Here to view the map of Niger Sewing Coops

Handicrafts Cooperatives
Many members of the tribes with whom TurtleWill works are excellent artisans, creating unique traditional silver jewelry and leather handicrafts. However, they are often hindered in their ability to produce, due to the initial start up costs and their lack of a cash economy. TurtleWill provides the seed money to purchase the necessary supplies such as leathers, beads, metals, thread and dyes to get the Cooperative started. TurtleWill’s donation helps maintain dignified, traditional livelihoods for the tribal peoples in these poor countries. These Handicrafts Co-ops quickly becomes self-sustaining, as the jewelry and handicrafts are marketed to and purchased by the surrounding nomad populations.

Handicrafts cooperatives are for both men and women!

TurtleWill currently has 18 Handicrafts Cooperatives operating in Niger and Mali.

Budget: $1100 per cooperative

Click Here to view the map of Niger Handicrafts Coops

Woman’s Mini business Program:
In 2006 we also started a system of micro credit loans given to individual women. With this system each woman receives a loan of $40 which she uses to start her own tiny business. These vary from animal fattening for resale, to selling basic necessities like sugar, tea, cloth, etc. from her home. Each woman has four months to develop her business and then refund the loan to TurtleWill, which is then given to another woman

Budget:
$40 per woman, to be recycled to additional women.

Niafunke mat weaving cooperative, Mali	Kate and Francie modeling Tuareg blouses at Teguidissa sewing coop, Niger
Abalak sewing coop for women of the Handicapped Association, Niger	Imbakaten ladies making bricks for their food cooperative, Niger
Tenilat Food Cooperative, Niger	Nia Leatherwork Cooperative, Niger
Tamazalak Sewing Cooperative, Niger	Tamazalak Basketry Cooperative, Niger