With support from our Global Giving Partners, we were able to finance the training and kits for 153 women and youths to start crocheting as a business. Our target was 250. Please support us to training additional 100 women and provide them with the starter kit for their business.
Government remains the largest employer of labor in Gombe state. With few companies within the state there are little opportunities for employment in Gombe thus agriculture is the major occupation of the people. However, with climate change and the resultant effects, outputs from farms have been dwindling. With reduced output, men are earning less and less and women have to find income to supplement what the men produce.
Crochet requires minimal input and even with low literacy skills, women can quickly become proficient. The first set are currently producing hats, blankets, duvet covers, throw pillow covers and other items that are easy to sell and not complicated to make. This allows them to earn money to use for feeding their families, payment of school bills, payment for medical expenses and some have even enrolled in diploma in entrepreneurship and vocational skills.
The products have started attracting attention and on the long run, some of the participants will have stable income from the crocheting business. Some have customers waiting in queue for their orders. The additional peck of formal education is elevating them to make them eligible for future employment.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
