The Lower Eastern Women Cooperative Union (LEWOCO) has successfully concluded a Capacity Building Workshop for Training of Trainers (ToT) VSLA Champions, marking another significant milestone in strengthening community-led financial inclusion and cooperative development.

The workshop focused on deepening participants' understanding of the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) concept while equipping the champions with practical facilitation skills to effectively train and mentor new groups within their communities. Through interactive learning sessions, participants enhanced their knowledge of VSLA methodologies, group governance, record keeping, leadership, financial management, and effective facilitation techniques.

At the end of the training, the VSLA Champions were awarded certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the programme and their commitment to promoting sustainable community savings and lending initiatives.

The newly certified champions are expected to play a key role in expanding and strengthening VSLA groups by supporting members with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their savings groups effectively and sustainably.

The impact of the VSLA programme continues to be felt across LEWOCO's membership. To date, the organisation has established 39 active Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which have become a transformative force for the cooperative and its members. The groups have enabled members to save regularly, access affordable loans, invest in income-generating activities, improve household livelihoods, and build financial resilience.

LEWOCO remains committed to empowering women and smallholder farmers through financial inclusion, capacity building, and community-led development. By investing in local trainers, the cooperative is laying a strong foundation for the continued growth and sustainability of the VSLA programme, ensuring that more communities benefit from improved access to financial services and economic opportunities.