Signpost International
In July 2023 the Claremont Trust provided a grant to Signpost International which was used to support the installation of a deep borehole in Tunoyo village, West Pokot, Kenya providing access to safe water year-round. The entire community lacked access to safe and clean water with girls and women (upon whom water collection duties usually fall) having to walk approximately six hours daily to fetch water from an unsafe open source used for bathing as well as by animals.
The borehole was drilled on a four-acre piece of land collectively owned by an established women’s enterprise group. The improved access enabled the women to develop the land for agricultural use as well as providing drinking water to the entire community.
The project has directly benefited approximately 1,500 (855F, 645M) community members from Tunoyo and neighbouring villages accessing water. CICR estimate that within one year the local population will double, and treble in the third year because of the stabilising effect water has within the Pokot nomadic communities. With an annual population growth of 3.1% in the County and an expected life-expectancy for the borehole of 25 years, it is anticipated that the project will at a minimum benefit an additional 5,224.
This project has been successful in realising its principal aim of providing safe, clean water to the community of Tunoyo and beyond. Monitoring suggests this has had a marked impact on the incidence of water borne illnesses, reported both from community members and the local health centre.
Beyond improvements to the health of the community both women and men are reporting the truly transformative nature of the project. Prior to the project girls and women would leave their households before the sun rose at 6am to begin the long journey for water, returning by midday with a 20L container for the needs of the household (average daily use p/person in the UK is 145L). Now the journey for most within the village takes around 20-30minutes, and with this time saving girls are now able to attend the local primary school more consistently, women can attend to their small enterprises increasing household incomes and can spend time preparing food and being with their families.
Introduction
In 2023, Claremont granted funding to Inspire Women Men and Children towards One day trainings for vulnerable women. The beneficiaries were vulnerable women and included widows, single mothers and orphans who live in Pelandaba and the surrounding areas. These trainings were done at our Vocational skills training centre in Pelandaba, Bulawayo. Our target was to train 100 vulnerable women
Women and girls were trained in the following skills
- Beading
They were taught how to make a coin purse. Earrings, necklace, bracelets and a key holder
- Drink making
Women were taught how to make flavoured cordials (Raspberry, Cream soda, Blackberry and Pineapple)
- Pie making
Women were taught how to make pastries with different fillings such as vegetables, chicken, and beef.
- Baking
Women were taught how to bake cupcakes and buns
- Detergent manufacture
Women were taught how to manufacture dishwashing liquid, toilet cleaner and petroleum jelly
BRIEF BACKGROUND
Women and girls in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe face different challenges in their communities and are at high risk of poverty, abuse and vulnerability. Some of these situations include girls being victims of forced early marriages, early pregnancy or survival sexual abuse and women struggling to fend for their families.
To support women, young girls and other vulnerable members of the community, Inspire Women and Children Skills Centre in Pelandaba seeks to offer one day workshops for skills that can be easily monetized. These skills require low start up capitals and use equipment that the women may already have in their homes.
Our courses provide a sustainable livelihood to marginalized girls and women.
AIMS
- Emphasize the importance of learning a new skill training among vulnerable woman (widows, single mothers, orphans, vulnerable girls and women and living with HIV/AIDS and other health hazards)
- To cultivate the culture of business and entrepreneurship amongst girls and women to encourage them come up with income generating projects.
Summary
Inspire Women Men and Children has trained women and girls with skills and knowledge so that they can start income generating projects and increase employability opportunities .The initiative has enabled women to create a small income for themselves and their families by producing products such as drinks , dishwashing liquid and pies which they can sell to the market.
Through Claremont Trust’s help that we have managed to implement efforts geared towards contributing to the decrease of social ills including early child marriages, unwanted pregnancies, poverty marriages as well as vulnerability to violence and abuse.
Your financial support has transformed communities and changed lives training women and girls to become financially independent and self-reliant. We have also been able to impact transferrable skills to ensure continuity in the community as well helping the communities with income generating opportunities.
All the staff at Inspire WMC as well as the community, women and girls are grateful for your financial support for this empowering project and we would be happy to answer any questions or provide further information should the need arise.
Conclusion
Through this funding Inspire women men and children has managed to change lives and empower women and young girls so that they can earn a living for themselves. When we educate women, we empower a nation. This intervention will go a long way to uplift our communities and alleviate poverty. The organisation is grateful to our donors to afford us this great opportunity to change families, empower communities and reach out to vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Thank you for sponsoring our vocational skills training
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