

Increasing Family Savings in Central African Republic
It's 6 o'clock in the morning in Bossemptelé, and the sun is already shining in Alice Deboro’s courtyard. A shopkeeper, wife, mother and sister in the northwest of the Central African Republic, Alice balances her market work with running a household.

Alice Deboro at her stall in Bossemptelé Central Market, where SILC loans have enabled her to diversify her merchandise.
Photo by Bienvenue Gbelo/CRS
“I always manage to organize myself to look after my home and children, while also going out to sell and take part in community and religious activities too,” she says with a smile.
Alice rents a booth at the central market, selling clothes, shoes, kitchen utensils and spices. Her day is structured from morning to night, juggling family responsibilities and market sales.
Alice’s dream has always been to grow her business to better support her family, especially after losing her parents and taking on the care of her younger siblings, in addition to her husband and children. However, accessing a loan in her small town was nearly impossible.

Alice Deboro takes a break from the market to prepare lunch for her children, serving a hearty vegetable stew to her son Oseas.
Photo by Bienvenue Gbelo/CRS
Then, in December 2023, Alice joined a savings group through the I Londo I Mai: Reinforcing Resilience in the Central African Republic project. I Londo I Mai, which translates as “rise up and grow together,” is implemented by Catholic Relief Services in partnership with All for Peace and Dignity, with funding from U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. The savings group model known as Savings and Internal Lending Communities, or SILC, allows community members to save money and access small loans.
Alice contributes $4 weekly to the savings fund and 15 cents to the solidarity fund, which supports members celebrations or crises. During the first cycle, Alice took out two loans, which she used to buy goods in bulk from Cameroon, increasing her profits. She used the additional income to care for her family and invest in farmland.

Alice Deboro, a participant in the I Londo I Mai program in the Central African Republic, expanded her market business with the help of SILC loans.
Photo by Bienvenue Gbelo/CRS
“Thanks to God, I have a way to earn and save money,” Alice says. “It helps me care for our needs, like food and health care. The money improves our lives.”
SILC has also taught Alice about money management. “Before, I was selling but never knew what I was saving,” she says. Now, she budgets and prioritizes her spending.
As the second cycle of her SILC group begins, Alice’s priority is her children’s and siblings’ education, and she dreams of saving enough to build a better house for her family.
The I Londo I Mai project, running from June 2023 to May 2025, aims to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable families and improve their economic resilience in the Central African Republic. The project includes food distributions, cash transfers, agricultural training, and the creation of SILC groups, benefiting over 19,000 people in 2024.