From savings to sustainability: Evershine members invest in livestock and water security
Members of the Evershine VSL Group. Photo courtesy of Score Against Poverty, 2026.
Evershine Village Savings and Loans Group (Evershine) of Chigota Village embarked on a transformative journey toward financial independence and entrepreneurship when it was formed in 2024. With 23 members, the group was established in response to severe livelihood challenges exacerbated by the 2023/24 El Niño-induced drought, as well as deep-rooted patriarchal norms that concentrate decision-making power in men. Local women and men came together through Evershine to address systemic gender inequalities, increase women's financial independence, and tackle widespread financial insecurity, particularly the limited access of women to formal credit and banking services.
The initiative counters these structural barriers while also responding to the district's high levels of food insecurity and acute water scarcity. Together, these challenges have made the community's traditional reliance on rainfed agriculture increasingly vulnerable in the face of climate change.
Motivated by training opportunities and a shared desire to improve their households' wellbeing, Evershine members actively participated in Village Savings and Loan (VSL) activities and business and financial management trainings facilitated by Score Against Poverty through the Locally Led Indigenous Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation in Zimbabwe (LINCZ) project. The group's unwavering determination encouraged Score Against Poverty and staff from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development to equip members with climate-smart knowledge and skills. This newly acquired knowledge inspired members to commence their savings journey in August 2024. Since the group's last share-out in December 2025, accumulated savings have reached 20,005 South African rand (approximately CAD 1,700) as of June 2026.
With the support of their spouses, members eagerly took out loans and invested in small businesses of their choices to strengthen the group's foundations. Some members started ventures such as making and selling corn buns, selling airtime, buying and selling small grains, rearing indigenous and broiler chickens, and tailoring, among other activities. Within a short period, these investments proved fruitful, generating profits that enabled members to repay their loans with a 20% monthly interest while retaining surplus income for further investment and growth.
Group members expressed their sincere appreciation for the project and its impact on their livelihoods. At the end of the 2024 cycle, the members invested in 23 female breeder goats, one for each member, laying the foundation for an even more ambitious venture: drilling boreholes in their homesteads for household and income-generating activities.
Having endured years of climate-related challenges, members worked collectively toward their long-term vision of drilling boreholes at their homesteads to secure reliable water sources.
As group chairlady Netsai Marimbire explained,
"As a unified group, our collaborative efforts have propelled us forward."
The group's unity provided members with the collective bargaining power needed to engage a professional borehole drilling company. To date, six members have successfully had boreholes drilled on their properties. This development directly benefits 36 household members by providing a reliable source of water for both household and income-generating purposes.
Members are now growing vegetables and report having no difficulty marketing their produce, as local demand is sufficient to absorb what they produce. The boreholes are helping to create what could become a localized green belt within the community.
Members of the Evershine VSL Group. Photo courtesy of Score Against Poverty, 2026.
Another notable outcome has been strengthened community cohesion. Evershine members who have drilled boreholes share water with one another, demonstrating a strong spirit of mutual support. Access to water for livestock has been a big problem, with cattle often travelling long distances to reach water sources that frequently dry up during periods of drought.
The benefits also extend beyond Evershine's membership. Neighboring households that are not part of the VSL group are also accessing water from the boreholes for drinking and livestock, with more than 15 households currently benefiting from the initiative.
Evershine members truly live up to their name. The group has transitioned from reliance on donor support and material assistance to greater self-sufficiency, now funding the production of its own group uniforms through member-generated resources. Members have also prioritized investing in their children's education, reflecting their long-term commitment to breaking the cycle of climate-induced poverty, gender inequalities, and building resilience for future generations.
Reflecting on the group's progress, group Treasurer, God Love Masaga, noted:
"The knowledge and support from LINCZ will take us far. This inheritance is eternal to our community and we will pass the same to future generations."
Rosemary Tambo, Secretary of the Evershine group, gave heartfelt thanks to Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MWACSMED) for providing support that intentionally reached socially excluded groups and communities. She even noted that the group's success has earned them recognition within the community, with even the Village Head taking pride in their achievements as other project members visit to learn from their experiences. Through the project, the group received a seed fund of 250 USD, enabling members to expand their loan portfolio, scale up businesses, and improve household livelihoods. After successfully utilizing and repaying the fund over an eight-month period, the group passed it on to another VSL group, Success, extending the benefit to others.
One group member, Georgina Moyo, reflected on the challenges they faced before accessing the loan fund, explaining that limited capital had been a major obstacle.
"Skill and drive without enough capital had let us down for many years, making it difficult to meet the growing demand of various services. This funding capacity has enabled us to increase our production capacity and already we are working on identifying goods and services needed which we can scale up," she said.
God Love Masaga and Rosefair Mangudze of the Evershine VSL Group. Photo courtesy of Score Against Poverty, 2026.
Following their share-out in December 2024 and having experienced the benefits of the injected seed capital, members entered the 2025 cycle with renewed confidence. Score Against Poverty and MWACSMED will continue facilitating training activities to respond to community needs.
Village Head Mr. Chigota also expressed his appreciation to Global Affairs Canada for supporting their community.
"This loan has given them the hope and means to build a better future for themselves and their families," he remarked.
About Score Against Poverty
Score Against Poverty (SCORE) is a local, community-based organization registered as a charity in 2020. However, it has been operating as a Trust since 2014. With over a decade of experience, SCORE has developed diverse capacities in areas such as education, food security, climate change, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), humanitarian assistance, clean energy, and gender equality. SCORE focuses on addressing the needs of the most vulnerable groups in the community, including women, men, girls, boys, and people living with disabilities. SCORE is implementing the LINCZ project in Mwenezi District.
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