Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy in Kakuma
On a sunny afternoon in the heart of Kakuma 3, the Blossoms of Hope Initiative hosted a powerful session on financial literacy, bringing together women from the community for a life-changing learning experience.
Inside a simple yet welcoming classroom built with wooden poles and iron sheets, more than a dozen women gathered, seated on colorful mats and plastic chairs, their attention focused on the chalkboard. The facilitator (Molfa), standing confidently before them, wrote out terms like “savings,” “loans,” and “budgeting”—concepts that are often unfamiliar but essential for economic independence.
The training was designed to equip women many of whom are entrepreneurs, mothers, and caregivers with the knowledge and confidence to take control of their financial futures. It covered core topics such as:
- Understanding income and expenses
- Setting realistic savings goals
- Managing small business profits
- Avoiding debt traps
- Planning for emergencies
What made this class special was not just the content but the sense of solidarity. The learners engaged actively, asking questions and sharing their personal challenges in managing household and business finances. Most of them run small-scale activities like knitting, beadwork, or selling groceries at local markets.
“I never knew how much I was spending on daily things until we did the budgeting exercise,” said one participant. “Now I feel more in control.”
The learning space itself, though modest, symbolized resilience and community strength. The walls, crafted from locally available materials, stood firm like the women they enclosed—ready to grow, build, and blossom.
This session marks the continuation of Blossoms of Hope Initiative’s commitment to women’s empowerment through education, skill-building, and mentorship. Financial literacy is not just about numbers; it’s about dignity, autonomy, and the ability to make informed decisions for one’s family and future.
As the women left the session that day, notebooks in hand and heads held high, they carried more than knowledge they carried hope.
