Empower 100 Nigerian Widows through Economic Dev.

SUMMARY
Since our last report in January 2026, Buhknom Development Foundation (BDF) has continued to advance the EmpowerHer initiative despite limited funding. We focused on follow-up support for previously empowered widows, expanded outreach to new beneficiaries, and strengthened community-based mentorship. These efforts have helped sustain small businesses and improve household resilience among vulnerable widows in our target communities in the Federal Capital Territory and surrounding areas.

ACTIVITIES COMPLETED
Follow-up and Mentorship: We conducted monitoring visits and group mentorship sessions for the 30 widows empowered in late 2025. This included business skills refreshers (record-keeping, marketing, and basic financial management) and peer support meetings.

New Beneficiary Support: With available resources and small donations, we provided seed grants and startup kits to an additional 12 widows. Many started or expanded petty trading, tailoring, and food processing ventures.

Humanitarian Relief: We distributed food items, clothing, and hygiene supplies to 45 widows, addressing immediate needs during the lean season.

Training Sessions: Two entrepreneurship workshops reached 28 participants (including repeat beneficiaries), covering savings habits and group cooperative formation.

IMPACT
Beneficiaries report improved income stability and greater confidence. One widow, Aisha (name changed for privacy), shared: “The seed grant and training allowed me to expand my vegetable stall. I now support my three children’s schooling without begging.” Many participants have begun small savings groups, fostering long-term financial habits. Overall, we have directly supported over 80 unique widows through the project so far (combining economic empowerment and relief).

CHALLENGES
Funding remains the primary constraint, limiting the scale and pace of reaching the full target of 100 widows. Logistical issues in remote areas also increased costs for monitoring visits.

NEXT STEPS
Scale up seed funding and vocational training for at least 20–30 more widows in the coming quarter.
Establish stronger partnerships for additional resources and market linkages.
Conduct a mid-year evaluation and beneficiary success stories documentation.
Intensify fundraising to close the gap toward our goal.

Thank You
We are deeply grateful to GlobalGiving donors and partners for standing with these resilient widows. Your support is transforming lives, restoring dignity, and building stronger communities. We look forward to sharing more success stories in our next report.