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Category: LRP

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SSDO, ActionAid Works to Improve Education in Rural Communities 

Research shows that over 90 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. A good percentage live in rural and marginalized communities. These communities are characterized by poor access to healthcare and education, lack of infrastructure, and low income levels. This affects their standard of living and quality of life, of which kids are the biggest victims. 

Understanding this reality, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria through the Local Rights Programme, is doing its part to improve education in marginalized communities.

The program aims to reduce poverty by increasing its engagement with the poor and marginalized in selected communities through its Child Sponsorship mechanisms. The child sponsorship initiative identifies vulnerable children aged 3 to 8 years and attaches them to sponsors.

Over the past collection period, the team collected over 740 child messages across eight communities. Our motivation is to see the children and the communities at large be all that they can be. This activity allowed the team to keep tabs on the kids and monitor their development process. As well as get feedback from the kids to the sponsors. 

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SSDO, ActionAid Establish GBV Response Teams in Three Communities

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) remains a significant issue in our society, especially in rural communities causing immense harm and violating the fundamental rights of individuals, particularly women and girls. 

Women often cower in fear as their source of livelihood is tied to their abusive partners. Addressing GBV requires collaborative efforts from government agencies, community stakeholders, and civil society organizations.

Understanding this challenge, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, under the Local Rights Programme in Enugu State, established a GBV response team in three communities: Ihenyi and Orokoro communities in Isi-Uzo LGA and Igga community in Uzo Uwani LGA.

This committee of women, market leaders, and youth representatives will help raise awareness, prevent and quickly respond to GBV cases. As part of these efforts, an advocacy visit was conducted to community stakeholders in the three communities to get their buy-in.

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Empowering Women Through Peer Education Training

Through years of working on projects at the community level, we realize that women and girls are hugely disadvantaged. They have often been marginalized and segregated to the background on so many fronts in society. One of the primary reasons for marginalization is the inequality between men and women in accessing and controlling resources.

Understanding this, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, organized a women’s peer education training in Igga community, Uzo Uwani LGA. The program seeks to foster women’s empowerment through peer education. This initiative aims to advocate for women’s rights and bridge women’s capacity deficiency at the community level.

The three-day training was facilitated by the project lead, Priye West, and SSDO’s Gender Officer, Blessing Uchendu. The training was executed using the Women Peer Education Resource Kit.

During the training sessions, the women expressed how low self-esteem had previously affected their engagement in community activities. They also discussed issues that impacted their emotional well-being within their marriages, such as husbands using harsh words and taking their earnings. They were taught by the team how to identify opportunities provided by the government and how to position themselves to be beneficiaries. 

Education and skill acquisition were discussed, with many young girls expressing concerns about their parents’ reluctance to send them to school, leading to early marriages within the community. This issue was recognized as critical and in need of addressing during advocacy meetings.

The concept of managing post-harvest losses was explained, although many participants lacked the necessary capital to expand their businesses. Climate change issues were addressed, focusing on harmful environmental practices that needed to be rectified. The participants were encouraged to promote inclusivity and support disabled individuals in the community, despite their community having few disabled persons.

The training also covered essential areas such as personal development, health, livelihood and survival, and inclusion. The women were taught the importance of body image, self-esteem, time management, hygiene, skill acquisition, and the dangers of gender-based violence. After the training, the group elected a President.

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SSDO, ActionAid Organized Agroecology Training in Orokoro Community

The impact of climate change has never been more evident, especially on agriculture in Nigeria. Erratic rainfall, flooding of farmlands, rising temperature, and soil degradation reduce farmers’ output and increase food insecurity.

Understanding this challenge, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria, organized a 3-day Agroecology training and established a model farm under the Local Rights Programme in Orokoro community, Isi-Uzo LGA, Enugu State.

Participants learned modern farming techniques and alternatives to chemical pest control and fertilizers. They also learned new methods for water retention and how to ensure they retain soil fertility in their farms. So as to increase farm yields and improve sales.

The training was facilitated by Mr. Theophilus Ivoh from the Ministry of Agriculture and Priye West, Local Rights Programme Officer. It covered topics such as soil conservation, sustainable water management, reduction in the use of agrochemicals and composting, pest control, multiple cropping, rotation, and intercropping.

In a truly participatory approach, the community donated four plots of land and were given 75 improved palm seedling for their model farm and personal farms. This would help improve the socioeconomic status of the households and community. It will also help the community be more resilient to climate change through afforestation and improved seedlings.

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SSDO, ActionAid Organizes Fun Activities for Kids in Nkume Community

School-age children learn through creative activities like music, visual arts, dance, drama, storytelling, and sports. Creative arts and sports activities engage children across all cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical domains. It helps improve their motor skills, build emotional intelligence, and stimulates creativity and problem-solving. 

Understanding this, South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with ActionAid Nigeria under the Local Rights Programme, organized fun activities for kids to promote physical health and well-being for children in Nkume community. For maximum participation, the kids choose the activities they want to engage in.

The children participated in football, running games, egg-spoon, ball toss, freeze tag, and dancing competitions for the children. The activities helped the kids bond better and improved the kids’ team spirit.