ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN AND YOUTHS WITHIN NSUKKA DIOCESE
To ensure the reduction of poverty in Nsukka diocese, JDPC Nsukka embarked on several poverty alleviation programs targeted at families found to be in real destitution. Some of these program interventions include the following:
- JDPC NSUKKA SUPPORT VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITIES TO UPLIFT THEIR FAMILIES
To enhance the financial stability of caregivers discovered to be in real destitution through household assessment conducted by the organization, JDPC Nsukka with the help of the ACCESS project to help the poor caregivers enrolled in the program give out Income Generating Activities (IGA) to eighteen (18) caregivers enrolled into the program. These caregivers were given financial education training on how to manage and sustain a small scale business of their choice without having problems.
The organization also helped them in the procurement of the startup goods from different local markets where they are cheaper. Furthermore, to ensure the growth and the sustainability of the business, the caregivers were encouraged to join Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) in their communities. This will enable them progress and make more profits and turn over.
Some of the Families supported with income generating activities
- CASH TRANSFER TO FAMILIES IN REAL DESTITUTION AND LEAVING WITH DISABILITIES
JDPC Nsukka conducted household assessment, in the assessment it was discovered that ten (10) of our caregivers aside from being in real destitution were also disabled. These ten caregivers were supported with an unconditional cash transfer of ten thousand naira (N 10,000) each for three consecutive months which amounted to thirty thousand naira (N 30,000) for each of the beneficiaries for the period of three months. These funds were unconditionally given to the beneficiaries for feeding but eight of them used the intervention to support their small scale business. They are progressing in the daily basis.
FINANCIAL LITERACY TRAININGS FOR CAREGIVERS AND ADOLESCENTS IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Caregiver undergoing financial literacy trainings
Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) Nsukka, to help all its IGA beneficiaries, cash transfer and adolescents on skill and vocational training to succeed in their areas of special interests, occasionally invites these beneficiaries of the small-scale businesses and those supported with cash transfer and the adolescents in financial literacy training.
During these trainings, the beneficiaries were carefully given the basic financial principles and were thought of the importance maintaining a good relationship with their customers. They were also thought about record keeping and how they can update their records. COFE training was also conducted to them, this is to enable them improve and make progress in their area of their special interest.
Formation, training and facilitation of Village Savings and Loan Association group in communities in Nsukka
Images showing Village Savings and Loan Association during their contributions To strengthen our beneficiaries, a good savings culture was introduced across our area of coverage many of the beneficiaries of the small-scale businesses engaged themselves in the savings group. The organization formed sixteen Village Savings and Loan Association groups with its beneficiaries in communities and then encouraged those not in the scheme to join the associations.
In all the sixteen savings groups, members were encouraged to save and to take loans from the association with a low interest rate and then plunge it into their businesses. This is ensuring that their businesses would continue to increase and progress more efficiently.