By Tina Agosi Todo, Calabar
Community Members of Edondon in Obubra Local Council of Cross River have applauded Wanel-Aedon Development Association for empowering 57 women on sustainable livelihood.
Also, the community-based feminist organisation was applauded for constructing an eight-room lodge in Edondon for accommodation needs of tourists either on transit or visitation to nearby forest communities.
Speaking at the group’s fifth yearly economic empowerment programme for the rural women, some members of the community said the initiative was first of its kind for a community based women organisation in the state.
While expressing gratitude on behalf of the community, Woman Leader of Edondon and a beneficiary, Mrs. Mary Oyi, said: “Wanel-Aedon development empowered me with garri fryer. This will go a long way to help my family’s needs.
“Edondon women are lucky to have this organisation because it has been helping women come out of poverty, not only Edondon women, other women from other communities are also benefiting and I am proud to be from the community that created this kind of platform for women from neighboring communities to benefit. On behalf of the community, and women, I say a big thank you to the people behind this empowerment.”
Commending the group on behalf of the Village Chief, Mr. Felix Egbe, urged the beneficiaries to put the equipment into good use.
On the initiative, Secretary General of the group, Mrs. Joy Ogar, said the community-based feminist group, was started in 2003 by few women, who came together with a common goal to address women’s human right abuses, illiteracy, poor governance, female genital mutilation, environmental justices and social inclusion.
She said: “Some of the beneficiaries were not only trained in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), tailoring, agri-businesses among others, but also given empowerment equipment, including sewing machines.
“In 2007, Waneledon commenced an empowerment scheme with 24 beneficiaries trained in computer literacy, tailoring and some given sewing machines. Today, we are here for the fifth phase of the empowerment scheme for 2023.
“We have 57 beneficiaries in various items- hairdressing equipment, sewing machines, cassava processing facilities, trading, pigs and goats farming.”
Ogar assured that the group would not relent in its efforts to better the lives of women in the rural communities.
Source: The Guardian