Summary of project status and achievements:
This month, sewing and knitting outreach classes were completed in Block H. Thirty women participated – 15 in the sewing class and 15 in the knitting class. Twenty-nine completed – 14 in sewing and 15 in knitting. Graduation was held on December 19.
The savings circles continue to progress. With the help of the Coordinator, the PM compiled a short report about the savings circles for UNHCR Pretoria. Information from the report was based on an extensive interview with the Women’s Centre Coordinator and a series of focus groups with the women in the savings circles. The PM carried out three focus groups, but due to the rains and the height of the cultivation season, the number of participants in two of these groups was very low, so it may be more proper to call them group interviews. A preliminary report was written by the PM, reviewed by the Coordinator and sent to Joan Allison, UNHCR Pretoria. Ms. Allison thanked FORGE for the report and asked that we prepare a one pager or ½ page for advocacy purposes, explaining that UNHCR “public information/external relations section likes putting good practices into boxes in documents.”
The number of informal counseling cases this month was unavailable at the time this report was compiled.
Sherie Gertler, the new Women’s Centre PM attended the December 12 staff meeting in which a tentative plan for January and February programming was discussed. Sherie has officially taken over the project, and there will be a supplemental transition period during Nick Reese’s trip to Meheba in mid-January.
Future Activities and Projections:
The outreach classes will pause for the next two months in anticipation of the supply budget scaling back up in March and to wait out the worst of the rainy season. They are likely to resume in some form in March. The new PM will guide that process.
In January, at least one four-day workshop will be held, probably targeting school leavers, both graduates and others.
Savings circles will also continue. Nick will prepare the one pager requested by UNHCR Pretoria. During his trip to Meheba in mid-January, he will also attempt to hold more focus groups in order to compile a more complete report on the savings circle initiative.
Once harvest begins and women have more income, the Centre still plans to try to facilitate a savings circle with the women from the Block H knitting and sewing class that just ended. This is likely to happen in March.
Substantial problems or issues:
None
Wishes or requests:
None.
Budget:
See expense monitor.
