By Social Workers Beyond Borders | Lesotho Country team
In collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Forestry, SWBB organized a five day training on beekeeping and tree planting to help 15 Mafeteng families who receive social assistance grants to learn skills to start their own income generating activities. Group members have been supported in learning about financial literacy and savings groups to economically empower themselves in order to become less dependent on public assistance programs.
Following the training, the group created and submitted their constitution to become registered as a business organization. SWBB and Ministry staff will continue to support the business in its early stages to ensure its success not only for the families directly involved but for the community as a whole.
Community updates in the following Districts: These have been arranged periodically in the communities of Mafeteng, Leribe and Pitseng. SWBB representatives have provided ongoing organizing of community groups for the purpose of establishing Self Help Microfinance Groups in these communities. Groups continue to save and meet to discuss issues re their various microfinance project ideas.
District of Mafeteng: The Self HelpGroup here has created a constitution and has named their organization : Thahameso Makaota Farmers Association. The group is in the process of pooling their funds to raise enough to register the micro-business. The constitution must be finalized and legally approved. Once this step is completed they can apply for the land needed to plant (trees and flowers) and establish bee hives.
The group’s business development plans include securing the land with the help and guidance of Ministry of Forestry; erecting fencing, building a tool shed for group use. Pricing for these specific tasks are has been undertaken in order to create a working budget.
Disctrict of Leribe:SWBB was introduced to additional groups and savings and business management concepts were discussed, this time graduates of Help Lesotho’s programs. Request was made of SWBB representative to discuss assisting groups (20 individuals from Khanyane and another 20 from the community of Malesaoana) on the savings model and business management. SWBB has now facilitated connections between these two groups with Peace Corps expert in agricultural development for income generating purposes.
Financial literacy learning is ongoing. The organization Caritas has collaborated through providing training by technical specialist on bookkeeping practices for savings groups. Sample books on bookkeeping methods were made available for use with pilot group Leribe.
District of Pitseng:
Following up on earlier work, of SWBB in Elder Care and SWBB/SARID Sustainable Building Project and expansion of a housing of facility for the frail elderly, both in Pitseng SWBB representative has worked with staff at the eldercare facility and members of the surrounding community to clarify what their goals might be in starting one or more micro-business ventures. Newly acquired skills from the Sustainable Building Project have given several marketable skills. Whether community members wish to engage in developing a group business venture or start individual micro-businesses has yet to be decided.
IVRC Income Generating Exporting Project
IVRC is a technical college that has some specialized programs for young adults who are disabled. MOSD personnel and SWBB representatives met with IVRC staff and introduced Elaine Bellazza, an exporter from the US engaged in establishing Lesotho based income generating activities with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
The meetings held on the grounds of the technical school included specifically staff members working with disabled young adults, and briefed attendees on the export project. Visits to each sheltered workshop on the campus followed with discussions with faculty and students. From the meeting, it was determined that knitting / crocheting are currently the most transferable skill set to establish export project income.
Follow-up meeting, was scheduled; graduates of the IVRC will pursue working with Bellazza to establish active income generating groups and an export microbusiness. This type of project through the Ministry of Tourism is new, however, this may be a great opportunity.
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