Team Tolon’s Livelihood Projects: The Volunteers Perspective

When I started my twelve week volunteer journey with International Service I had no idea of the extent to which I would integrate with the Income Generating Groups (IGGs) we are working with. I am amazed that we are able to share ideas even when we are out of the community. It seems there is tremendous progress with the work so far. Typing this post about the IGGs is my attempt to put their position into context, and I hope will give you knowledge of the project we are working on.

We are working with IGGs in five communities within the Tolon District, namely Kangbagu, Wayamba, Yogggu, Dimabi and Dundo.

Kangbagu

Kangbagu has a 30 member IGG named Bohimbu Viela who are into the processing of Shea butter. They are very optimistic and hardworking.

Their major setback is inadequate finance to expand their business. They also think linkage to bulk buyers will bring about improvement in their income generating activities. Bohimbu Viela has the potential to be a very profitable IGG. They have the necessary skills of financial management and recording keeping the last cohort trained them on, and are well on their way to success.

Wayamba

The IGG Walima Kavi was also created after the NFED program. These women have meetings every Wednesday to discuss issues of income generation and also to improve their manufacturing process. They are into the processing of rice and shea butter.

Walima Kavi are keen on International Service and NFED’s work but sometimes expect a little more than what the organization can provide. They are hardworking women who take their work seriously, and they produce and sell at the market every week.

This group needs a lot more of training on record keeping and financial management as they seem not to be putting to work what the past cohort showed them.

Dimabi

The name of their IGG is Biehigu Tagya which translates to Life is Changed. Their main activity is shea butter production, although they also have secondary activities such as soap making, dressmaking and rice production.

Biehigu Tagya’s idea about International Service’s partnership with NFED and its work is very positive, as they see the impact it has made on them since their involvement.

Dundo

Dundo’s IGG is named Bagsim Viela. Their main focus is rice processing, although they have secondary activities of shea butter and nim oil production.

The members of the group work in their individual homes to produce the rice, and do not have shared facilities. Bangsim Viella sell their produce at three different markets; Katinga, Nyankpala and Tamale. The group’s primary source of funds is through personal savings. They also have group savings which is distributed in challenging periods to the group members, to keep them active in the IGG (personal welfare).

Bagsim Viela is a hardworking group but sometimes pessimistic. They are skeptical to change and reluctant about taking financial risk. Although the group produces rice and shea butter in low quantities, they are of good quality, and they are also capable to produce in larger quantities to attract bulk buyers if they get the necessary financial resources and equipment.

Though they struggle to embrace new ideas, they are hard working and ensure they sell every week at the market. International Service and NFED Tolon need to build the women’s understanding of the importance of risk taking is when it come business, as well as to encourage them to take their financial record keeping seriously. The future of these women is bright, all they need is to exercise patience and cooperate with International Service and NFED Tolon. They should put into practice all the training they have been given by all the past ICS volunteers and patiently await the results.

Yoggu

Yoggu has a 34 member IGG that are hardworking, always willing and wanting to learn new skills. They always want to better themselves with anything that is brought forward to them by International service.

Their major setback is the fact that they lack funds for raw materials for production, so they produce the same quantity each week. Also, they are unable to reach other market centers, like that of Tamale, as transport from the community is poor.

Yoggu seem to follow and implement the work of each cohort and are on the way to success. They seem to be among the most serious of the IGGs we are working with; they all turn up to meetings regularly and contribute when the need arises. They have a strong belief that once they are able to improve the finance and transport situation and are also linked to bulk buyers, their business will excel. 

Girls Growth and Development (GIGDEV)

GIGDEV is a dressmaking group set up in 2008 by Sella Nitori and the NGO, GIGDEV. The IGG is a dressmaking group made up of 45 women, 40 of which are students. The age range of the group is 14-22. The women have been taken through new skills in sewing and also literacy lessons from NFED. Financial management and recording keeping training given to them by past cohorts has been of great help to them as it helps them in saving to acquire new sewing machines.

To conclude, although there are undeniably some variation in the outlooks and attitudes of the different IGGs, they all remain fully engaged with our project. Overall they are largely motivated and hardworking, and in support of the work of International Service and NFED. Over the next cohorts, we see the IGGs thriving more and more as they are able to gain easier access to water, better ways to transport their goods, and become more confident in handling their finances. This will empower our women to become more efficient and increase their profit in their livelihood activities, eventually reaching out to bulk buyers, in turn helping them reach their potential.

Nasmah Nashiru