Voices4Nigeria's "Farming Grant Initiative" implemented through our partner, Gabasawa Women and Children's Empowerment Initiative, has been incredibly successful. The initiative gives women from the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps opportunities to farm, meet their personal needs, share their produce with other women and children in the camps, and work towards economic self-sufficiency.
Our IDP Farming Project initially began with 65 widows on a small acreage of land. We currently are working with 95 women (all widows) with much more land access to farm. These women clear, plant, fertilize, weed, harvest, and, in many cases, package their crops to sell at the markets. Each woman determines how much land they can successfully manage, with the hopes of increasing their allotment of land and yield annually. These women are not only grateful for this empowerment initiative but are demonstrating significant successes in their individual and corporate efforts.
Recently, members of the Nigerian Victims Support Fund www.victimssupportfundng.org visited the farms. Their assessment was, "Gabasawa/V4N had the best farmers (and farms) they had seen!"
We applaud the work effort, tenacity, courage, and faith of these widows who tirelessly labor to provide for themselves, their families, and their communities.
*Since 2010, Boko Haram has continued its terror campaign against Nigeria's citizens. In the past several years, Fulani militants have joined with Boko Haram's efforts of intensified and pervasive attacks against the innocent. We invite your participation and partnership in providing opportunities and hope to these often forgotten women and children.
We look forward to your continued support!
Voices4Nigeria