Summary of project status and achievements:
This month, sewing and knitting classes continued in Block H. Thirty women are participating – 15 in the sewing class and 15 in the knitting class. This month, the workshops covered SGBV and Childcare and Nutrition. Participants asked that the class be held two days a week for most of the day, instead of four days a week for half a day. This will help them keep up with their cultivation schedule and still attend the classes. The instructor obliged and together with the women worked out a schedule.
The savings circles continue to progress with no major problems. The rains and the fact that November through mid-December is the height of cultivation season have affected attendance sporadically. The Tuesday group at Road 12 has begun to work land at Road 9 for ground nut cultivation, the proceeds of which will go into the saving circle.
No informal counseling cases were recorded this month.
Future Activities and Projections:
The Women’s Centre is adjusting to the budget cuts. The knitting and sewing outreach classes will be suspended after the current intake graduates in mid-December. In January, at least one workshop will be held, probably targeting school leavers, both graduates and others. With their greater levels of education and familiarity with tests, the workshop pre/post tests will be introduced. In the next two months, the Women’s Centre will be exploring and experimenting with additional, less expensive programming.
With the help of the coordinators, the PM will begin preparing an evaluation of the Centre’s savings circles. Focus groups will be held during the first two weeks of December. A preliminary report should be ready sometime in January 2009. A brief version focusing on the setup and process of starting and implementing the savings circles in Meheba will be prepared and submitted to Joan Allison of UNHCR Pretoria per her request by December 10.
Once harvest begins and women have more income, the Centre will try to facilitate a savings circle with the women from the current Block H knitting and sewing class. This is likely to happen in March.
Indicators and statistics:
Savings Circle
Health & Knitting and Tailoring Classes
Informal Counseling
Substantial problems or issues:
None
Wishes or requests:
None.
