When I started my twelve week
volunteer journey with International Service I had no idea of the extent to
which I would integrate with the Income Generating Groups (IGGs) we are working
with. I am amazed that we are able to share ideas even when we are out of the
community. It seems there is tremendous progress with the work so far. Typing
this post about the IGGs is my attempt to put their position into context, and
I hope will give you knowledge of the project we are working on.
We are working with IGGs in five
communities within the Tolon District, namely Kangbagu, Wayamba, Yogggu, Dimabi
and Dundo.
Kangbagu
Kangbagu has a 30 member IGG named Bohimbu
Viela who are into the processing of Shea butter. They are very optimistic and
hardworking.
Their major setback is inadequate
finance to expand their business. They also think linkage to bulk buyers will
bring about improvement in their income generating activities. Bohimbu Viela
has the potential to be a very profitable IGG. They have the necessary skills
of financial management and recording keeping the last cohort trained them on,
and are well on their way to success.
Wayamba
The IGG Walima Kavi was also created
after the NFED program. These women have meetings every Wednesday to discuss
issues of income generation and also to improve their manufacturing process. They
are into the processing of rice and shea butter.
Walima Kavi are keen on International
Service and NFED’s work but sometimes expect a little more than what the
organization can provide. They are hardworking women who take their work
seriously, and they produce and sell at the market every week.
This group needs a lot more of
training on record keeping and financial management as they seem not to be
putting to work what the past cohort showed them.
Dimabi
The name of their IGG is Biehigu Tagya
which translates to Life is Changed. Their main activity is shea butter
production, although they also have secondary activities such as soap making,
dressmaking and rice production.
Biehigu Tagya’s idea about
International Service’s partnership with NFED and its work is very positive, as
they see the impact it has made on them since their involvement.
Dundo
Dundo’s IGG is named Bagsim Viela. Their
main focus is rice processing, although they have secondary activities of shea
butter and nim oil production.
The members of the group work in their
individual homes to produce the rice, and do not have shared facilities.
Bangsim Viella sell their produce at three different markets; Katinga,
Nyankpala and Tamale. The group’s primary source of funds is through personal
savings. They also have group savings which is distributed in challenging
periods to the group members, to keep them active in the IGG (personal welfare).
Bagsim Viela is a hardworking group
but sometimes pessimistic. They are skeptical to change and reluctant about
taking financial risk. Although the group produces rice and shea butter in low
quantities, they are of good quality, and they are also capable to produce in
larger quantities to attract bulk buyers if they get the necessary financial
resources and equipment.
Though they struggle to embrace new
ideas, they are hard working and ensure they sell every week at the market. International
Service and NFED Tolon need to build the women’s understanding of the
importance of risk taking is when it come business, as well as to encourage
them to take their financial record keeping seriously. The future of these
women is bright, all they need is to exercise patience and cooperate with
International Service and NFED Tolon. They should put into practice all the
training they have been given by all the past ICS volunteers and patiently
await the results.
Yoggu
Yoggu
has a 34 member IGG that are hardworking, always willing and wanting to learn
new skills. They always want to better themselves with anything that is brought
forward to them by International service.
Their
major setback is the fact that they lack funds for raw materials for production,
so they produce the same quantity each week. Also, they are unable to reach
other market centers, like that of Tamale, as transport from the community is
poor.
Yoggu
seem to follow and implement the work of each cohort and are on the way to
success. They seem to be among the most serious of the IGGs we are working
with; they all turn up to meetings regularly and contribute when the need
arises. They have a strong belief that once they are able to improve the
finance and transport situation and are also linked to bulk buyers, their
business will excel.
Girls Growth and Development (GIGDEV)
GIGDEV is a dressmaking group set up
in 2008 by Sella Nitori and the NGO, GIGDEV. The IGG is a dressmaking group
made up of 45 women, 40 of which are students. The age range of the group is
14-22. The women have been taken through new skills in sewing and also literacy
lessons from NFED. Financial management and recording keeping training given to
them by past cohorts has been of great help to them as it helps them in saving
to acquire new sewing machines.
To conclude, although there are
undeniably some variation in the outlooks and attitudes of the different IGGs,
they all remain fully engaged with our project. Overall they are largely
motivated and hardworking, and in support of the work of International Service
and NFED. Over the next cohorts, we see the IGGs thriving more and more as they
are able to gain easier access to water, better ways to transport their goods,
and become more confident in handling their finances. This will empower our
women to become more efficient and increase their profit in their livelihood
activities, eventually reaching out to bulk buyers, in turn helping them reach
their potential.
Nasmah Nashiru
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