What is Livelihood Promotion?
Our commitment to enabling orphan and vulnerable children to live in their communities requires a sustainable approach. Many of the carers of orphans are aunts, uncles and other members of the child's extended family. In order for the child to be looked after the family will require financial and other support. Food insecurity remains a huge concern for Ethiopians.
JeCCDO works to increase the awareness of everybody to look after the orphan and vulnerable children in their community. It does this by turning the problem on its head, and providing economic activities that lead to opportunities. It does so in the following ways:
Self Help Groups
JeCCDO's approach to micro-financing acknowledges that people with no previous business experience need support and advice. JeCCDO sets up and facilitates Self Help Groups where people meet and help each other
- Small loans are given (predominantly to women who run households), so that the individuals can start up or expand their own enterprise. A very low rate of interest is set.
- Micro-financing enables people to improve their long-term prospects rather than simply providing short-term stopgaps.
- The scheme is sustainable as loans returned are used to provide loans to future beneficiaries.
- Women are taught basic book – keeping and support each other.
JeCCDO brings women together to meet and discuss their problems. The meetings are chaired each week by a different member. Each woman pays in a small amount of money every week into a general fund which the chairwoman is responsible for collecting. Each member is provided with a 'pass book' in which the amount paid in and the amount taken out is recorded by the group secretary. JeCCDO assists the group run their meetings as and when required. The groups are provided with a framework for them to refer to and they set their own lending limits and rules. With these loans women set up their own small businesses, such as bread making, beer making, clothes making and other activities. Because of the support they receive in the groups defaulting on a loan is very rare.
|
