Economic empowerment to 100 refugee women

Tushirikiane (TUSA)- Community-based Organization continues its activities of providing assistance to its members, giving priority to the most vulnerable. This year, it has in particular focused its assistance on income-generating activities and sustainable projects through self-help groups. At present, it has funded 8 sustainable projects run by solidarity groups in the form of self-help groups. These are projects of rearing chickens, running shops and different other projects of lending and borrowing within self-help groups for different purposes. It has of course continued providing assistance in areas of education, livelihood, social-pastoral support. More emphasis has been put on projects as we believe this is the best way to help members in a sustainable way, as they are provided with funds to start more sustainable income-generating activities.

The project "Raising refugees'living standards falls also in this category since its main objective is making women self-reliant in the long run and helping them be able to be self-sufficient financially.

Through GlobalGiving, Tushirikiane has been able to raise 1849 USD of1582.98 USD has been disbursed so far. With this disbursed amount, Tushirikiane has been able to funds 6 projects with Ksh 145,000 (Ksh 130,000 from GlobalGiving Donations, plus Ksh 15,000 from a third party). The projects are doing well and their owners are on the right path towards sustainability. However, recently, no new project has been funded under this project because we have not received much. However, that does not mean no project of this kind has been funded. As said above, TUSA has been funding income-generating activities and 8 self-help groups thanks to funds from other donors. We are still waiting for more donations through GlobalGiving to fund more projects.

Talking about self-help groups, TUSA has, for instance, given a loan of more than Kes 550,000 to Mihango Solidarity Group to raise chickens. For more than 8 months, the project has been running. They buy 500 chickens and raise them and sell them after one month, then they pay the loan and they buy more. Now the project has reached the stage where they can pay back Kes 100,000 per month and be able to buy more chickens. Very soon, the group will be done with repayment and will be able to raise the number of chickens.

In its efforts to achieve sustainability, TUSA has also bought a piece of land and will soon embark on projects of making paving blocks and many more.

Links:

• https://tusacbo.com/about-us/