Informal Group

The informal group is the fundamental delivery mechanism for ASA credit and savings services. ASA groups average 20-30 female members that gather weekly for development education lessons, receive and repay loans, and deposit savings. There is one Chairperson, one Secretary, and one Cashier that are elected by the group members. The three member committee is changed every year by group election to encourage leadership skill among the members. In every group there is one resolution book in which all proceedings, including the attendance of the group members, is recorded. The meeting is conducted in an hour and a half during which money changes hands and passbooks are filled in for accurate record-keeping.

Ultimately, ASA's 'Self-reliant Development Model' is only successful if its beneficiaries become self-reliant themselves. To achieve this, a beneficiary needs to continuously invest and re-invest in small businesses for 10 years or more in order to accumulate adequate funds and participate in group meetings in order to firmly establish a sense of self-worth. Keeping in mind the long-term impact of ASA's development initiative, the organization concentrates on bringing changes in the behavioral pattern of the beneficiaries.