A critical element in the process of empowering the poor is the bringing them together for collective reflection and action. This not only increases their bargaining power but also helps build democratic institution of the poor at the grassroots level.

One of the first group activities, at most projects, is a saving and credit association to enable members to grant and receive production and consumption loans. These association multiply and often grow into large informal cooperatives releasing the members from the stranglehold of the local moneylenders. In many of our projects, membership to these associations is by written application which has to be signed and not thumb impressed -an effective incentive to spur literacy.