In the heart of Juba South Sudan, Betty Events Women Group and Village Saving and Credit Cooperative Society is changing lives through enterprise, resilience, and deep commitment in the empowerment of women and youth. The Founder and Chairlady, Betty Poni has witnessed first hand the phenomenal transformation of the 40 women entrepreneurs in the group.

Founded in 2019, Betty Events Women Group Village Saving and Credit Cooperative Society is a women-owned cooperative that combats gender imbalance and enhances economic inclusion. Inspired by observing the obstacles to accessing financial services and business training for women, Betty founded this group with other like-minded women.

Starting and sustaining a business in South Sudan comes with its challenges and for the group it was no different. They struggled with high interest rates, high rent, volatile exchange rates, power costs, and security challenges that affected their supply chain.The group lost 15 jerrycans of honey from Western Equatoria due to insecurity. In addition, the group had to import packaging materials, further increasing their operating costs which was not sustainable.

Having heard of an opportunity for an interest-free loan from UNDP and the African Development Bank, through another entrepreneur, the group recognized the potential to grow their business. They received a loan of SSP. 5,000,000, and with this financial support, their cooperative has grown remarkably.  The purchased raw material and packaging material are in bulk. The group now employs 23 local women as casual laborers. It has expanded its product lines to include honey, shea butter, natural oils, and okra powder, selling to local, regional, and international markets, including the United States.

Their products have gained recognition at major regional exhibitions, including the Jua Kali Trade Fair in Burundi, where they ranked second among exhibitors. Through the training received, the women have been empowered with practical skills in packaging and processing. This visibility, strategic branding, and improved product quality have led to increased sales and profitability. “With these profits, we have been able to pay school fees and healthcare for our children and provide other basic needs healthcare for our families and still save for the future.” Betty proudly shares.

Betty Events Women Group Village Saving and Credit Cooperative Society is strengthening the local economy by partnering with boda-boda riders for deliveries and purchasing raw materials from local suppliers. The entrepreneurship training the group received gave them meticulous financial management skills. The women in the group can now budget, keep accurate records, and save on driving the sustainability of their businesses and timely loan repayment. Due to this dedication, the group has fully repaid the loan.