The paper-trail

I’m struck whenever I visit client meetings by how efficiently they fill in the various pass books and other records. Especially older groups who have experienced a few loan cycles need little to no prompting from the loan officers when it comes to doing the minutes, counting up the loan repayments and savings, and filling in the forms. At repayment meetings there are forms, receipts and booklets in abundance, and the women know they have to account for every last kwacha (photo). Those clients who can’t read and write put a thumb-print on the documents – other groups members help them out and explain where to make their mark.