Economic Growth Nigeria Project #18960

Create 20 Community Owned Businesses In Nigeria

by Leadership Initiatives

Project Report | Apr 24, 2015
A new business exists because of you!

By Marshall Bailly II | Executive Director

Dear Spectacular Leadership Initiatives donor,

Because of you Leadership Initiatives has created multiple new jobs throughout Nigeria through our business creation and expansion programs that your donations have supported.

I want to take a moment and highlight one individual who has undergone this training and what it means to our programs.

PERSONAL STORY OF OUR WELDING BUSINESS OWNER:

Hamza, the son of a local farmer, was born in 1985 at Kofar Fada, but then later settled at Yelwa Markaranta of Bauchi. His father could not afford to send him or his thirteen siblings to school. Therefore, he spent most of his time helping his father on the farm during the rainy season.

NEWco Welders was established in July of 2008 after Hamza become part of Leadership Initiatives'; Business Creation Program. During the course Hamza learned how to own and operate a business, and once he received funding for his business idea, Leadership Initiatives provided skills training for Hamza and his employees.

During their skills training sessions, Hamza and his team completed community welding projects to showcase what his business could do, creating demand before it even opened. By August of 2008 Hamza’s welding business was in high demand within the Yelwa Markaranta community. LI’s intervention greatly transformed his life, as well as that of his family. Due to his training in welding, he now earns about N300 – N400 daily, giving him the ability to financially support himself and his family.

This is especially important when a family member is ill or has a special need. He has even been able to help send four of his siblings to school. In addition, Hamza continues to further his own education by enrolling in adult classes that he did not have access to prior to his affiliation with Leadership Initiatives.

HAMZA'S IMPACT UPON HIS COMMUNITY:
The majority of people living in Yelwa are traditionally petty traders and subsistence farmers. The rate of poverty in Yelwa is high, while level of education and employment are low. The welding business has contributed to the development of Yelwa by providing affordable services and showing members of the community that it’s possible to learn the skills to open a business and secure gainful employment.

Hamza Welders currently employs seven people, including the business owner. The employees continue to acquire new skills and are also making a respectable living to support their families. Children who once needed to work can go to school.

The success of the welding business has led Hamza to develop an interest in assisting orphans and other children in the community with their education. By employing and caring for orphans, and helping them with their education, Hamza inspires those around him by trying to solve the problem of youth unemployment one small step at a time.

Because of you, there are more jobs, orphans cared for and opportunities for communities in Nigeria. You can learn more at www.lichange.org or view the program pamphlet and benefits sheet attached along with our highlighted business partner Hamza's welding business.

If you would like to learn more about our business creation programs please visit our new website at www.lichange.org. There you can find out about their personal stories, meet members of the community, view photo galleries, or even set up a Skype call with a business owner!

Also if you had a moment could you tell us why you donated and how you heard of us, we are always trying to better refine our message and reach more people with our call to change. Thank you for also helping us, understand wonderful people like you better!

Wishing you, your friends and especially your family the absolute best this Holiday Season!

Sincerely,

Marshall and the entire LI family

Links:

Hamza's Welding Business

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Feb 5, 2015
Because of you new businesses and jobs exist!!!

By Marshall Bailly II | Executive Director

Dear Amazing Donor,

Because of your assistance, Leadership Initiatives is expanding our business creation program. In 2015 we will be adding 7 new businesses and expanding 3 in Bauchi alone which is where your support is going. To highlight how this committment to development is changing lives, I want to hightlight one man who has been forever changed by it.

Personal Story of Musa Employee of LI created Irrigation Farm

Musa worked hard doing any odd job he could to support his wife and five children. Three years ago when Shehu created his irrigation farm with Leadership Initaitives, Musa was one of his first hires.
Over the years of working on the irrigation farm with Shehu, Musa’s salary has grown and he can now take care of his entire family.

Musa has grown not only as an employee but a leader among his peers, training new workers and working to create better harvesting techniques for the farm.

Two of his children have graduated from secondary school while the other 3 are in primary school. All of his children plan to attend school and even University thanks to their father’s support.

Musa has also become a shoulder to lean on to his family, offering his new home for friends and family and offering to assist with their doctor bills when they fall ill. He is able to do this because of the income he earns on the farm.

Musa plans to continue working on the farm with Shehu and has been inspired to use the expertise he has learned working on the farm to create a small business of his own to help him earn extra income to send his children to University.

If you would like to learn more about our business partners and the lives they are changing visit our new website at www.lichange.org. There you can find out about their personal stories, meet members of the community, view photo galleries, or even set up a skype call with a business owner!

Also if you had a moment could you tell us why you donated and how you heard of us, we are always trying to better refine our message and reach more people with our call to change. Thank you for also helping us, understand wonderful people like you better!

Wishing you, your friends and especially your family the absolute best in 2015!

Sincerely,

Marshall and the entire LI family

Links:

http://www.lichange.org

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