– by Judy Gray, with information from Rébéka Tankoano
We recently received an update from Rébéka Tankoano (coordinator with our partner organization APDC) about the newest beneficiaries who have been able to set up a personal enterprise in the town of Fada. You will likely remember from earlier posts about Burkina Faso that almost all the villages World Neighbours Canada was previously supporting are now deserted as the villagers have been forced to move to Fada to avoid armed conflict. Life is very tough for these displaced persons, especially the women, as they have no means to earn money to care for their children, and many husbands have left to seek work elsewhere.
Thus the opportunity to learn a new skill that will permit a woman to set up an enterprise is a huge step forward. 12 women began entrepreneurial training in March, thanks to a donation from the QSI International School of Benin – the school my husband and I visited last November. Four of the women are caring for and fattening 2 piglets each so their profits have not yet been realized, but eight of the women have set up peanut processing businesses and have already earned revenue.
Rébéka shared comments from a number of the women, as she visited them all recently to provide advice and support.
Habibou Manli states: “I really enjoy my work, it’s very profitable, I can often earn more than 2,500 CFA francs (about $6) per production session. Thanks to this activity, I have become independent. I pay for my condiments and water, and I am able to contribute to a savings group for change. I have also trained another woman who now works for herself, which helps her family a lot. She is very happy. I am currently training another woman who will also be self-sufficient soon. Many women want to learn, but they cannot afford the inputs and equipment. Many thanks to APDC and its partners who have helped us to acquire the skills and equipment we need to work and provide for ourselves. I am very happy.”
What I found most encouraging about the women’s comments was the fact that some of these newly trained women are now able and willing to share their knowledge with others living near them. For me, as a retired teacher, this is truly the completion of the teaching-learning circle – when a learner is able to teach another !
Koagli Thiombiano shares : “I am very happy to have had the opportunity to benefit from your assistance. Thanks to this peanut processing and marketing activity, I have become self-sufficient. With the regular income I earn from my sales, I support my family by buying condiments, firewood and water, providing healthcare and paying for my children’s school fees. I also save money in a Savings for Change group in our neighbourhood… I am also very happy to have been able to train other women who are now able to work for themselves, which helps their households enormously. After training these women, I followed up with them and mentored them, and now they are working for themselves. Working with these women brings me a lot of joy every day. We have become friends and help each other in our activities. It is very exciting for me when we are together. I often give them money to pay for inputs, and after the sale, they repay me. I also give them some materials to produce with, as they do not yet have the means to pay for all the necessary equipment, so my materials help them to produce as well. I also help them to find new customers. It is really interesting. We work together perfectly, and I hope that they will become more independent so that they can also help other people. I am very grateful to the donors because this activity is very beneficial for us women !”
Rebeka also included comments from one of the benficiaries who was trained by Koagli. Here is Yonli Dirba’s expression of gratitude for the training she received :
“We were overjoyed when Koagli offered us training, and to this day we are still very happy with her help. It has helped us a lot; we are able to support our families and meet our specific needs. We are so happy with her help and very grateful to her. We will never forget her kindness, because this activity is very beneficial for us. We thank God and the team that supports and guides us. We eat and earn a profit by selling our products. Thank you so much to everyone. May God bless each and every one of you, the donors, and may we always be united in love and solidarity to make our activities even more successful.”
In a region where almost all international development organizations have ceased to continue with development activities, it is encouraging to hear of these small projects that influence so positively the lives of these displaced persons !