By ABDIRASHID ALI | Executive Director
Our wonderful donor.
All of our beneficiaries have all received their productive asset chosen from amongst the following; Motorbike, Sewing machine and related accessories, donkey & donkey carts and tools, goats, Merchandise for small kiosks and MPESA agency shops. GENCAD's project team carefully selected the livelihood options based on market research conducted in the project location.
In addition to the productive assets provided, the beneficiary women also completed a two-month business training course and have continued to receive mentoring. Due to recurrent droughts and a challenging economic environment because of the covid-19 pandemic, some of our beneficiaries suffered setbacks, for example, the death of goats and donkeys and slow business activities resulting in low income and savings. To support our beneficiaries, we recently provided veterinary services for the recipients of goats. The intervention was well-received by all the beneficiaries.
The impact of this project is discernible in the community. Many women have improved their housing condition, such as renovating existing rooms, constructing new ones, completing unfinished structures and more importantly, constructing toilets for their families. Many were able to pay school fees for their children and attend to a sick family member.
Let me share with you a story of one of our beneficiary, Sadia.
Sadia, a resident of Wargadud village, was selected as a beneficiary for the Result 1 Project. She belongs to a minority clan in the town. She is a divorcee and the only breadwinner for her large family.
Before receiving her productive assets, a border dispute between Sadia's clan and the majority clan in the village erupted, causing people and livestock displacement. Sadia was born and brought up in the town and had become attached to it. Her extended family members pressed her to move to a different town to protect herself and her family. After resisting for a week, her family succeeded in moving her to Mandera Town.
GENCAD's staff visited her in Mandera to discuss with her what she wanted to do. Sadia chose to start a mobile veterinary shop, selling animal drugs to nomadic pastoralist. She met with a vet shop in Mandera Town and bought livestock drugs worth Ksh 52,000 with local vet officers' help. She started her work in a village called Waranqara in Lafey constituency. Within a short space of time, Sadia sold her entire stock within a week, making a profit of Ksh 18,000. She returned to Mandera for re-stocking. Within two months, Sadia bought 21 goats, re-stocked her mobile shop and started a grocery kiosk in Mandera Town. She is on her way out of poverty with the bold decision and choice she took. She is truly a success story for our project. We hope to do a documentary on her journey next quarter.
When asked how she feels about the project and her current situation, she responded.
" I can't measure my level of happiness. I now have the business skills and knowledge to assess what business investment to make. I keep my records well and have a dream to open a wholesale shop."
There are many similar cases to Sadia's, and we are delighted and confident that almost all of them will be able to graduate out of poverty. Thank you for joining us in this vital journey, and we request that you continue lending us your support. Thank and may God bless you.
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