Empowering widows – Yudita has now her own small business
Yudita is one of the widows who is being empowerded through the CCW community development program. We provided her with a small capital through which she was able to start her small business selling bread, soap and peanuts. She is very thankful for the support: "Now I can have supper for myself and for my children without lot of trouble as I used to have before. My lifestyle is being improved and I have hope."
Yudita is one of the widows who is being empowerded through the CCW community development program. We provided her with a small capital through which she was able to start her small business selling bread, soap and peanuts. She is very thankful for the support: "Now I can have supper for myself and for my children without lot of trouble as I used to have before. My lifestyle is being improved and I have hope."
community development program
CCW supports community development through small income generating activities targeted at the impoverished and marginalized. These activities provide them with a small income that supports self-reliance and encourages them to pro-actively overcome poverty.
Relevance: 81,3% of Burundians live on less than 1.25$ a day (UNDP). This is the third highest rate in the world. Burundi has a Human Development Index of 0.355 and ranks on 178th position in the world in this category (out of 186 countries) (UNDP). The low income of Burundians (mostly generated through small scale farming) can sometimes not cater for basic human needs such as food, clothing, health care or education. Most Burundians are engaged in agriculture and still experience daily challenges in securing food for themselves and their children.
In its past and recent history, Burundi experienced armed internal conflicts that had a tremendous impact on its society and economy. The recent civil war from 1993-2005 killed 200.000-350.000 people and forced not less than 700.000 to flee to neighbouring countries. These numbers can only give a superficial account of the socio-economic impact that the armed conflict had on the ordinary lives of Burundians. As the country is still recovering from the war, many people continue to suffer from its consequences because they lost family members, possessions or were forced to leave their land. Burundi’s economy has recently experienced a significant decline, which makes the daily life of Burundians even more difficult.
Poverty has a severe impact on the education of children. Sometimes parents do not have sufficient means to purchase needed school uniforms or exercise books. Whereas 77% of Burundian girls and boys attend primary schools, only 17% are enrolled in secondary schools, which shows that too many children drop out of school because of poverty (UNESCO).
There is a great need to support families by granting them income generating activities and the needed community development knowledge so that they can meet their basic needs by themselves.
In its past and recent history, Burundi experienced armed internal conflicts that had a tremendous impact on its society and economy. The recent civil war from 1993-2005 killed 200.000-350.000 people and forced not less than 700.000 to flee to neighbouring countries. These numbers can only give a superficial account of the socio-economic impact that the armed conflict had on the ordinary lives of Burundians. As the country is still recovering from the war, many people continue to suffer from its consequences because they lost family members, possessions or were forced to leave their land. Burundi’s economy has recently experienced a significant decline, which makes the daily life of Burundians even more difficult.
Poverty has a severe impact on the education of children. Sometimes parents do not have sufficient means to purchase needed school uniforms or exercise books. Whereas 77% of Burundian girls and boys attend primary schools, only 17% are enrolled in secondary schools, which shows that too many children drop out of school because of poverty (UNESCO).
There is a great need to support families by granting them income generating activities and the needed community development knowledge so that they can meet their basic needs by themselves.
Activities & objectives:
Goats project:
Based on the critical socio-economic situations, in which many Burundians are living, CCW started its community development program, of which the goats farm is its flagship project. CCW distributes goats to critically poor families. The goats shall provide them with a small income generating activity that supports self-reliance and encourages them to pro-actively overcome poverty.
A goat provides milk to supplement a meagre diet, manure to fertilise crops and it can also generate money for school fees, clothing and food. Moreover, a goat shared by two individuals from different ‘ethnic’ background can be an effective means to establish a climate of mutual trust, team work and reconciliation as they share a common interest. For this reason, CCW has linked the goats project with the reconciliation program. After persons have successfully completed the trauma-healing and reconciliation seminar, CCW distributes goats to pairs of persons in order to promote the reconciliation process.
Goats project:
Based on the critical socio-economic situations, in which many Burundians are living, CCW started its community development program, of which the goats farm is its flagship project. CCW distributes goats to critically poor families. The goats shall provide them with a small income generating activity that supports self-reliance and encourages them to pro-actively overcome poverty.
A goat provides milk to supplement a meagre diet, manure to fertilise crops and it can also generate money for school fees, clothing and food. Moreover, a goat shared by two individuals from different ‘ethnic’ background can be an effective means to establish a climate of mutual trust, team work and reconciliation as they share a common interest. For this reason, CCW has linked the goats project with the reconciliation program. After persons have successfully completed the trauma-healing and reconciliation seminar, CCW distributes goats to pairs of persons in order to promote the reconciliation process.
During the first phase of this project, CCW found a way to increase the sustainability and efficiency of the project. Though generous support from prayer partners from UK, CCW was able to build a goat farm, where the organization can multiply goats very easily. In this ways, CCW was able to reproduce goats locally, redistribute them to the needy without depending on external funds. The goats farm was inaugurated by missionaries Marjorie and Allan on 10th September 2013 on behalf of On Eagles Wings and all prayer partners and friends.
Achievements:
10 goats (one buck and nine females) were provided to the farm as initial cattle. Since then nine small goat babies were born of which three died. We now have 6 babies, one bulk and nine females.
From 2005 up to now, CCW was able to provide 59 goats, two lambs and four swine to 59 persons and families from 12 provinces (out of 17 in Burundi). This was only possible through the generous contributions, which we received from our prayer partners!
10 goats (one buck and nine females) were provided to the farm as initial cattle. Since then nine small goat babies were born of which three died. We now have 6 babies, one bulk and nine females.
From 2005 up to now, CCW was able to provide 59 goats, two lambs and four swine to 59 persons and families from 12 provinces (out of 17 in Burundi). This was only possible through the generous contributions, which we received from our prayer partners!
Some beneficaries of the goat project:
Goat farm
Piggery and Poultry project:
Besides the goats project, CCW also distributes pigs and chickens to families. Like goats, these can be used to start small income generating activities that support self-reliance and help families to pay for their basic needs.
So far, CCW has provided 21 destitute families in Cibitoke Province with a total of 16 pigs. This support has been mainly possible thanks to Torunn and friends.
Besides the goats project, CCW also distributes pigs and chickens to families. Like goats, these can be used to start small income generating activities that support self-reliance and help families to pay for their basic needs.
So far, CCW has provided 21 destitute families in Cibitoke Province with a total of 16 pigs. This support has been mainly possible thanks to Torunn and friends.
Agricultural activities:
Besides the goat project, CCW has also a second community project, through which they distribute a variety of seeds (peanuts, Irish potatoes, maize and beans) and manure for agricultural activities. The vast majority of Burundians (around 90%) live on the countryside, where many of them undertake farming activities. Based on the beneficiaries’ felt need an demands CCW started to support families in this domain. So far, CCW provided seeds to 11 families in Karuzi province, 11 families in Cibitoke province and 6 families in Ruyigi province.
Besides the goat project, CCW has also a second community project, through which they distribute a variety of seeds (peanuts, Irish potatoes, maize and beans) and manure for agricultural activities. The vast majority of Burundians (around 90%) live on the countryside, where many of them undertake farming activities. Based on the beneficiaries’ felt need an demands CCW started to support families in this domain. So far, CCW provided seeds to 11 families in Karuzi province, 11 families in Cibitoke province and 6 families in Ruyigi province.
Small Business Activities:
CCW regards it as very important that also women have the chance to undertake business activities to support their families. Since conventional loan schemes of Burundian banks include huge interest rates, many women cannot access loans to start a business. CCW provides women with a small capital, which enables them to initiate a small business selling bread, soap, vegetables or fish.
So far, CCW offered this kind of assistance to 20 women in Bujumbura and Cibitoke Province.
CCW regards it as very important that also women have the chance to undertake business activities to support their families. Since conventional loan schemes of Burundian banks include huge interest rates, many women cannot access loans to start a business. CCW provides women with a small capital, which enables them to initiate a small business selling bread, soap, vegetables or fish.
So far, CCW offered this kind of assistance to 20 women in Bujumbura and Cibitoke Province.
Sewing machine project:
Another CCW project that specifically seeks to uplift the economic situation of women is the sewing machine project. Many Burundians have only agricultural activities as their main income source. They often lack the financial means to invest in a further asset that could increase their income. Sewing machines are such assets. They can provide somebody with a regular income since the demand for tailoring services is constant and stable. CCW equips groups of needy women with a sewing machine and ensure that they are able to use it.
So far, we have distributed 3 sewing machines to women groups in Ruyigi, Kirundo and Karuzi Province.
Another CCW project that specifically seeks to uplift the economic situation of women is the sewing machine project. Many Burundians have only agricultural activities as their main income source. They often lack the financial means to invest in a further asset that could increase their income. Sewing machines are such assets. They can provide somebody with a regular income since the demand for tailoring services is constant and stable. CCW equips groups of needy women with a sewing machine and ensure that they are able to use it.
So far, we have distributed 3 sewing machines to women groups in Ruyigi, Kirundo and Karuzi Province.
Conflict sensitive development approach:
CWW intends to ensure that its community development activities is conflict-sensitive. Our employees and volunteers have been trained on Do No Harm principles which help us to identify tension and conflict energy prior to our active involvement. Thus we avoid creating or intensifying new conflicts and are able to secure social cohesion in the communities.
CWW intends to ensure that its community development activities is conflict-sensitive. Our employees and volunteers have been trained on Do No Harm principles which help us to identify tension and conflict energy prior to our active involvement. Thus we avoid creating or intensifying new conflicts and are able to secure social cohesion in the communities.
Enabling individuals to gain their own income – Two emopowered orphans can now purchase basic items themselves
These two orphans used to go to school early in the morning about four miles away from home with their bear feets and without having breakfast. Today their situation is improved thanks to CCW assistnace. Through a small capital they were able to start an income generating activity and were able to buy shoes, clothes, school material and other commodities: "Our situation is better than it used to be before."
These two orphans used to go to school early in the morning about four miles away from home with their bear feets and without having breakfast. Today their situation is improved thanks to CCW assistnace. Through a small capital they were able to start an income generating activity and were able to buy shoes, clothes, school material and other commodities: "Our situation is better than it used to be before."