Built on the power of collective action
The Share Trust helps shift resources, decisions and power to the local actors who drive lasting change in their own communities.
Get involvedLocal actors, lasting change
We back Self Help Groups — small groups of 10–25 people who save together, build livelihoods and lead change — and the local organisations that support them.
From saving together to leading change
Self Help Groups follow a simple, proven path that compounds over time.
Come together
10–25 neighbours form a group and agree to meet every week.
Save and lend
Members pool small weekly savings and lend to one another.
Build livelihoods
Loans seed small businesses and grow household income.
Lead change
Groups federate and take collective action in their communities.
We believe people should be in charge of what happens in their own communities — so we work to shift resources, decisions and power to local actors.
Change, led from within
“Before the group, I had no savings and no voice. Now I run a business and sit on our local council.”
Aster
Self Help Group member, Ethiopia
“We stopped waiting for help to arrive. We pooled what we had and built what we needed.”
Joseph
Group federation leader, Kenya
“Funding the group, not the project, is what made it last.”
Dr. Lena Okoro
Independent evaluator