LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT: Sample Projects
Tailoring Training
Organization: Rise & Shine
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Project Objective: to provide tailoring training to young widows with children, empowering them to support themselves and gain social inclusion
In brief: Rise & Shine, a Nepali organization registered with the government in 2011, seeks to uplift widows and their dependents. Our grant provided support for a 6-month tailoring training program. The three graduates were able to make a living with their new skills. In addition to running this project, Rise & Shine also offers training in candle and soap-making, and conducts a women’s micro savings program.
Income Generation for Poorest of Poor
Organization: Community Transformation Society Nepal
Project Objective: to improve livelihoods of extremely poor families through small scale income generation initiatives.
In brief: The project area where CTS serves is the mountainous district of Dhading, where pockets of communities face extreme poverty. CTS partners with local groups to identify urgent cases, such as that of Kumari. Already poor when her husband died, Kumari was left with two children and a tiny plot of non-arable land. She scraped by, taking care of others’ goats for pay. Her wish was to take on more goats, but her lean-to shed was too small to shelter them. A grant from DDHCFN enabled CTS to provide not only materials for a larger shed, but also training and technical assistance for Kumari and two other women facing similar struggles. The three joined a women’s cooperative facilitated by CTS staff, where they gained additional social and financial support. Their lives - and their outlooks on life - have been transformed.
Bead Jewelry Training
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Organization: Hope for the Future
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Project Objective: to build self-confidence and skill development among marginalized women so they can live a life of dignity
In brief: Hope for the Future aims to promote sustainable development for the most needy in Nepali society through training, rather than through monetary gifts. With a grant from DDHCFN, two 8-day trainings for 30 women were provided as part of its “capacity-building project.” Participants included women who were orphans, disabled, poor, or low-caste. They learned jewelry design and production, using locally-available and affordable beads. The training was such a success that there is a great demand for more workshops.