During this exploration, our team’s understanding of cooperatives and ibimina changed significantly. At first, we assumed the main challenges were just slow loan processes and outdated methods. However, as we spoke to cooperative owners, traders, farmers, and neighbourhood members, we discovered that the issue is much deeper and more emotional.

What stood out most was the level of effort people put into earning money for contributions. Many explained the sacrifices they make each week to save small amounts, hoping it will help them grow financially. Yet they often face mismanagement, inaccurate records, and broken promises. Hearing these stories made us realize that this challenge is not only financial — it is deeply tied to trust, dignity, and the hope for a better future.

We were surprised by how common cases of fraud and disappearance of funds are, despite the popularity of ibimina and cooperatives. Even more surprising was the resilience of individuals who continue to rejoin new groups after being disappointed. This showed us how essential savings groups are to people’s lives, even with their flaws.

As a team, we learned to listen more carefully, ask better questions, and observe the environment without jumping to solutions too quickly. We saw that the community is not asking for something complicated — they simply want fairness, clarity, and accountability. They want to feel protected. They want their hard-earned money to be safe. This stage grounded our project in real human needs. It helped us see that technology should not replace community structures but strengthen them. Moving forward, we aim to build a solution that honours the resilience of our people and supports transparent, trustworthy financial systems.