equip 300 young mothers with business skills.

Dear GlobalGiving Family,

Warm greetings from the Saidika Organization team in Kenya! We are excited to share our 5-month progress update for the "Widows Can" project, which aims to support widows in marginalized communities with training, resources, and hope for a better future.

1. Project Activities

Over the last five months, our activities have included:

Skills Training: 25 widows completed training in tailoring, soap-making, and beadwork.

Micro-Grants: 10 widows received startup capital to launch small businesses.

Counseling and Support Groups: Bi-monthly group sessions were held to address grief, trauma, and mental wellness.

Community Engagement: We hosted 3 forums in Kibera to raise awareness about the challenges widows face and promote inclusion.

2. Key Outcomes

Income Increase: 70% of trained widows have reported a rise in household income.

Self-Reliance: 8 new businesses have been established and are currently running.

Community Impact: Increased visibility and advocacy for widow rights in the community.

3. Success Story

Margaret, a 43-year-old widow with three children, was part of our January tailoring class. With her startup grant, she bought a sewing machine and now runs a successful uniform-making business. Her children are now attending school without interruption.

4. Challenges

Rising costs of raw materials affected the number of beneficiaries we could support.

Psychosocial needs are still high, and we're exploring partnerships for ongoing mental health support.

5. What's Next?

Expand training to include agribusiness and digital skills

Launch a widow-led cooperative for product marketing

Develop mentorship programs pairing successful widows with new members

Thank You

Your continued support makes all this possible. We thank you for believing in our vision and walking alongside us as we empower widows to thrive, not just survive.