FINANCIAL SECURITY
Initiatives for poverty alleviation, entrepreneurship encouragement, and microfinance. The primary focus is to enhance capacity for improved agricultural productivity, livelihood assistance, economic empowerment, and food security.
Enhancing lives
In today’s world, one of the most critical challenges we face is the empowerment of women. This means not only giving women equal access to economic resources, but also ensuring they have the power to use these resources to take control of their own lives. Unfortunately, women around the globe continue to grapple with inequalities such as poverty, gender-based violence, discrimination, and limited access to education and financial opportunities. The ongoing crisis has further exacerbated these challenges, leading to a significant shift in traditional gender roles.
Amidst these difficulties, SOSSES’s Income Generation Department IGD, has taken on the vital mission of uplifting vulnerable women by launching micro-projects, promoting sustainable agriculture, and providing micro-credit initiatives. The ultimate goal is to empower these women to become self-reliant within their communities. The beneficiaries of these efforts include school dropouts, single mothers, internally displaced women, individuals living with HIV, and those with disabilities.
It’s a story of resilience, determination, and hope as these women strive to overcome adversity and build better lives for themselves and their families.
Small Initiatives
The Sustainability of Women and Girls (SWG) initiative has been active for over half a decade, specifically catering to At-Risk women aged 18-35. Following an initial needs assessment, the program supports participants in acquiring skills related to income generation, including pastry and yogurt production, shoemaking, soap making, bag production, and jewelry crafting.
Furthermore, the program focuses on enhancing the entrepreneurial and financial management capabilities of the beneficiaries through training in entrepreneurship, savings, bookkeeping, and sexual and reproductive health rights. This holistic approach aims to empower women to make informed decisions about their sexual lives and to address instances of violence.
Capital Generation
One of the primary obstacles encountered by farmers and small business owners is the difficulty in accessing capital. Microcredit initiatives seek to provide both women and men with the means to expand their businesses and agricultural endeavors. This is accomplished through the provision of conditional cash transfers, which may take the form of either loans or grants, depending on the funding partners.
Agriculture
To combat both food insecurity and the pressing issue of climate change, the department is dedicated to empowering grassroots farmers with the knowledge and skills needed for sustainable agriculture. Through a series of engaging and informative training sessions, farmers are equipped with essential expertise in various areas, including the production of organic pesticides, fungicides, and bactericides, as well as land preparation and farm management. Additionally, the training covers vital topics such as climate change resilience and effective harvesting and post-harvest preservation techniques.
Furthermore, the department goes a step further by providing essential farming inputs to support the farmers’ efforts. This includes the donation of high-yield, disease-resistant seeds and cuttings, as well as practical tools such as hand-pushed trucks, spraying cans, and processing machines. These resources are invaluable in helping farmers enhance their agricultural practices and achieve sustainable, productive outcomes.
In the face of global challenges, the department’s commitment to empowering farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture stands as a beacon of hope, fostering resilience and progress within local communities. Through education, support, and essential resources, the department is making a tangible difference in the fight against food insecurity and the impacts of climate change.