Life Skills Training

SaveAct’s Life Skills Training (LST) programme aims to provide basic social and financial literacy skills to savings group members, many of whom struggle to manage their personal and household finances.

In a typical rural household, state support in the form of pension, disability and child-support grants, are often the only source of income. As a result, families are economically vulnerable. Events such as death or illness often place a heavy financial burden on people, making them susceptible to offers of loans from micro-lenders or mashonisas, some of whom charge up to 50% interest on loans.

The Financial Education Training (FET) is aimed at building individual capacity in financial planning. Thus the training also includes accessible information about various financial services (including those of the SCG), and other products and investment opportunities in the market.

matatiele_2It is envisaged that the training will give participants the tools needed to escape the cycle of poverty, make informed financial decisions, live a more secure life and plan for the future.

By the end of the programme participants will have:
  • Understood the importance of financial planning
  • Analysed their money management practices
  • Recognised life-cycle financial needs and managed future risks
  • Analysed trade-offs between various financial options
  • Recognised how SCG and other financial products can help them to improve their financial situation·
  • Made a financial plan for their household.

As a by-product, this training is also aimed at empowering members to speak out about the challenges they face and share that information with others. In this way, we believe the potential is introduced for a collective approach to taking action and finding solutions.


LEAP: Eastern Cape

Training began in the Eastern Cape in March 2010 with the involvement of 41 groups. The LST programme comprises seven modules. Click here to download an overview of the modules and what they cover.

In general, there is ample opportunity during sessions for interaction and sharing among members, with the trainer using stories based on real-life experiences to illustrate concepts such as the need to prioritize, or simply the value of taking control of one’s life and financial affairs. Click here for stories about the impact of the LST on people's lives.