Self-help groups (SHG) are informal grassroots organisations that bring individuals together with a common purpose, providing them with a platform for mutual support, economic empowerment, and community development. These groups are not only about financial transactions or just individual growth, they’re the seeds of community development. As they uplift their members, these groups radiate positivity outward, bringing about tangible changes in their neighbourhoods.

SHGs as catalysts for change

They initiate projects, from small-scale enterprises to community welfare programmes, enhancing the overall quality of life. They are about fostering social cohesion, building resilience and creating positive change at the individual and community levels. Self-help groups (SHGs) can be found in various regions and settings around the world.

Individual and community impact

They are mainly prevalent in rural areas, developing countries, agriculture and livelihood sectors, agriculture and livelihood sectors, women’s empowerment, microfinance institutions, social welfare and community development, disaster areas, tribal and indigenous communities, and NGO and government initiatives. A society without a fully functioning SHG is a place where the potential of humanity remains untapped and the essence of community remains unexplored.