The participation of women groups in rural poverty alleviation; a case study of women socio-economic activities in the Machakos diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Kenya

Abstract

Poverty, and poverty alleviation in particular has been a major concern for all developing countries. The need for poverty alleviation arises from- its persistence despite past efforts to combat it through national development planning and special programmes. Among the groups hardest hit by poverty are rural women. This study therefore attempts to give an analysis of the participation of Women Groups in Rural Poverty Alleviation in the Machakos Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Kenya. The study has four aims; first, to identify the socio-economic activities that women groups in the Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Machakos are engaged in; second, to investigate the role of the Roman Catholic Church in assisting women group members and their families to achieve better living standards; third, to identify the challenges that women groups encounter in their poverty alleviation activities and fourth, to assess the successes and failures of women groups involvement in poverty alleviation activities. The study endeavours to test three hypotheses. The first hypothesis states that the provision of facilities by the Roman Catholic church has enabled women group members and their families to achieve better living standards. The second hypothesis states that

~ some traditional beliefs have slowed down the women groups' effort in poverty

alleviation. The third hypothesis states that the success of women's effort in alleviating poverty depends on their awareness of their deprived status and the causative factors. Nine women groups were selected from Masii Parish, Machakos Parish and Mitaboni Parish for focused study Questionnaires, oral interviews and participant observation methods were adopted to ensure .that the relevant data could be gathered. The method used for data interpretation was mainly descriptive.

The study found that women groups in the Roman Catholic Church Diocese of Machakos are engaged in a multiplicity of income generating and social welfare activities. The study revealed that the Roman Catholic Church has assisted women groups through the provision of material support, financial support, leadership training, technical support, spiritual support and follow-ups. The women groups in Machakos Diocese are facing financial, social. leadership and cultural problems as evident in the study. The study found that membership in women groups provides benefits in a variety of aspects namely economic, material, social, spiritual and technical skills. The study arrives at a conclusion that the participation of women groups in rural poverty alleviation has not been economically successful but it has brought the women group members together and enabled them to achieve various skills aimed at raising their living standards and that of their family members. The study makes the following major recommendations. Women group leaders should be transparent and accountable in everything they do The church should review the relevance of its training for group leaders and members and decentralize training to parish level. The government should set regulations dealing with members or leaders who mismanage women group funds and further research should be conducted on

~ whv the women are engaged in many projects with little economic returns.