Summary of project status and achievements:
The Road 44 sewing and knitting outreach class graduated on October 2. Twenty-seven women completed the class. The graduation included skits based on what the women learned in the workshops. Food was served, certificates were distributed, and the students' work was on display.
A new sewing and knitting outreach class began in Block H at Center Four. As always, 15 women are enrolled in the sewing class and 15 in the knitting class. The Reproductive Health workshop was completed this month.
The savings circles continue to progress. There are currently five. The Monday, Thursday and Friday groups meet at the Women’s Centre with members from Blocks C and D. (Originally the new group was supposed to meet on Wednesday, but the participants wanted to switch to Thursday.) The Tuesday group meets in Block B at Road 12 with members from Blocks A and B. The final group meets at Road 44 in Block D with members from the surrounding area. The Road 12 circle continued to plan for cultivation circles and groundnut cultivation.
No informal counseling cases were recorded this month.
Plans for the nursery program have been suspended indefinitely due to budget cuts.
The PM, the Coordinator, and one instructor were invited to a UNHCR workshop on SGBV. FORGE was able to contribute positively and left a good impression on the facilitators while gaining good advice and encouragement on documenting the savings circles. For more information see the attachment.
Future Activities and Projections:
The sewing and knitting outreach class will continue in Block H. Workshop topics will include SGBV and Childcare and Nutrition. With the new budget cuts, this will be the last outreach class until at least March.
Savings circles will be a focus of the next few months. The Road 12 circle will scout the proposed land for groundnut cultivation and begin with this project. Cultivation circles will begin upon its completion. The PM will work with the coordinator to document and begin an evaluation plan for the savings circles.
Indicators and statistics:
Substantial problems or issues:
The Road 44 Savings Circle is struggling a bit. The women do not want to take out loans, so it is progressing more slowly than the other circles. Staff will monitor the situation and try to encourage the women to move the circle forward.
