Welcome

this is the Blog of Dykes of Mercy....

We are a group of South African (moslty) lesbian women who have set up a "stokvel"* for giving money away! We come togther very month to collect money from each member of the stokvel. This money is pooled and a different member gets to choose a charity/group/individual to give the money to.

Rationale:
In Johannesburg, where we all live, there are a LOT of poor people. All of us want to do something to help, but just dont feel like we are making a difference. Sally had an idea for how we can make a difference, and feel less overwhelmed by the need and presented this to her friends - all of whom agreed to join up!

The person that stands at the side of the road, with a sign or an empty tin, makes only enough money to survive. We give coins, sometimes notes and drive away feeling like it was a drop in the ocean for that person. And, im pretty sure that the person who received the coin or note feels the same way - she can probably never catch up. So, we put our money together, and once a month pick someone to give the money to - so that we can make a real impact!

This means that the person on the street corner, or the charity we give to, can do something big: like buy a cell phone so that job searching is easier, or a shelter for HIV orphans can buy a TV for the kids to watch, or a microwave, or that women who stands at the side of the road can have a day off her feet, or pay school fees for her kids, or ..... you get the idea!

And this is our blog, so you can see how we do, and maybe start something similar of your own. If you do, let us know by emailing sally: sally_jean_sa@yahoo.co.uk

* Stokvel is a South African term for a savings scheme: where people get together to pool their money and rotate recipients. Its a strong South African tradition, where many people do not have bank accounts or access to savings.

links to more info:
"Under the mattress or into the stokvel, SA’s poor put money away for rainy day" Business Day Ayanda Shezi May 2005 (http://www.cssr.uct.ac.za/media/stokvels1.pdf)
MINISTRY OF FINANCE: GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON COMMUNITY-BASED SAVINGS SCHEMES, 15 January 1996 (http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1996/j170w881.htm)