RRI PROJECT SUCCESS CASE STORIES

CASE STORY ONE (WADAAMAGOO)

The village savings and loans association in Wadaamagoo is called “Barwaaqo” (Prosperity) Group and was established in the year 2010. The composition of this group comprises 25 women.

Initially during its inception, 10 persons were identified and selected to take part in the Cash for Work (CFW) project component. The main focus of these CFW activities were mainly communal work and especially building of community-based infrastructures (CBIs). These CBIs ranged from construction of a community center, Berkeds (water catchments) and rehabilitation of feeder roads. After their income increased exponentially out of these engagements and through the VSLA, they generated an idea whose implementation culminated in their decision to reinvest the proceeds acquired from the CFW initiative in setting up small-scale businesses.

As a result of generating modest income and creating wealth at the village level through engaging in small businesses and participating actively, the group has been to a great extent empowered and makes informed decision on their destiny. The multiplier effect of this initiative has trickled down and improved the quality of life at the household and communal level. More children are now able to attend school without any hindrance in terms of having something to feed on or other schooling materials.

At the communal stage the groups’ main activities focus on raising awareness on gender equality and women’s rights; conducting advocacy and referral of vulnerable women who are in need of special protection to relevant authorities and institutions. Likewise addressing pertinent issues that affect the well-being of the community including social ills such as gender-based violence (GBV), drug abuse, illiteracy and early marriages are addressed regularly. 

As a consequence of making some breakthrough in managing their businesses and fully getting empowered by CARE International, the group approached Micro-Finance Institutions (MFIs) to apply for a loan aiming at expanding their businesses to other locations within their geographical coverage. The group managed to secure a loan from Dahabshiil Bank where their interaction with the financial facility is promising.

CASE STORY TWO (SUUQSADE):

The women's group in the village of Suuqsade was provided with sewing machines through the RRI project. Through their tailoring activities, the women's group makes constant savings from their business.

The women have succeeded in setting up a tailoring shop at Suuqsade village where they stitch clothes for their customers who are mostly rural communities surrounding the area.

The project has uplifted the socio-economic status of the women who are now fully self-employed and operate as entrepreneurs at the village of Suuqsade. They are now empowered to realize their potential by putting food on the table and providing for the welfare of their children by meeting their school and medical expenses. They are now empowered to use their skills and make an income so that they can survive and help their families.

A readily available customer base of rural population who frequently flock to the center to have their clothes stitched which generates a daily income of 60,000 shillings (approximately 6 USD) per day translating into a rough estimate of 1.8 million (180 USD) per month net income.

They usually divide the proceeds into three parts; one part is used to pay salaries for three employees, one part is set aside for maintenance purposes and the remaining part is saved for the purpose of reinvesting by expanding the tailoring through setting up of branches in other strategic locations within the village.

CASE STORY THREE (QOYTA):

The Qoyta women's group was supplied with farm implements because of their nature of livelihood where most of them work on their farms.

The group was supplied with wheelbarrows and hoes for using in their farms to produce food and generate income. The women use the wheelbarrows to move produce from the farms to the market and their homes.

The project has uplifted the living standards of the women's group and by extension the Qoyta community by helping the women's group to have enough food for their families and earn extra income through sustainable farming practices.

With the provision of farm implements by the project, the women's activities in the field have changed tremendously and their production has been quite rewarding.

These drastic changes in the manner that the tools provided by the project have brought about, the women's group has made some savings and are now determined to rent a bigger piece of land with a vision of producing more and generating more wealth.

CASE STORY FOUR (ADAN SALEEBAN IDP CAMP BURAO):

The DAMAL women's group benefited from the project by being supplied with traditional chicken.

The chicken numbering 20 hens and 5 cocks has had tremendous contribution in terms of nutritional value and income generation to the women group and their households. The multiplier effect of this chicken rearing engagement has seen the rapid increase in the number of chicken which also translates to an increase of eggs and white meat.

Market for the chicken and egg products is readily available in the sprawling city of Burao where the Adan Saleeban IDP is closely located. An egg goes for 3,000 shillings (0.3USD).

This indigenous poultry keeping has improved the livelihoods of the Damal women group by getting an avenue to empower themselves and create wealth. Likewise, the nutritional values of their children, the elderly and the community at large have been addressed. At this juncture of the project, the women group has generated substantial income savings and is at the brainstorming stage in identifying the most promising opportunity for investment in terms of business expansion.

CASE STORY FIVE (QORYAALE):

The Hilaac women's group which is based in the village of Qoryaale is comprised of 20 women members.The women's group was a beneficiary of the supply of 8 machines through the project.

In the initial stage, they were furnished with startup kits and sewing accessories which included textile, needles, threads and scissors. The process was followed by the women's group setting up a tailoring shop at the village.

It is through this entrepreneurship opportunity that the Hillac women's group has been empowered to create sustainable livelihood in their locality as well as building their self-esteem. 

Many of the rural communities are now capable of having their torn clothes stitched through the services offered by the women's enterprise. The entity now generates 50,000 shillings (5 USD) per day which is equivalent to 1.5 million per month (150 USD). With these income earnings, the group is able to cater for their household needs and educate their children including providing the required educational materials and fees on time. In addition, the women's group set aside a small portion of their income as savings for equipment maintenance and business expansion ventures.

The women's group are at present more confident, determined and independent and are now planning on ways to consolidate their income by expanding their business and seeking loans from financial institutions.

  

CASE STORY SIX (ADHICADEEYE):

The Adhi-Caddeeye women's group is based in the village of Adhi-Caddeeye which is strategically located on the highway connecting the cities of Burao (Togdheer region) and Las-Anod (Sool region) respectively. This women's group is composed of 23 members.

The group runs a retail butchery enterprise at the village level and also expands outwards to Las-Anod (the Capital City of Sool region) as a reach out for new customers.

The project supported the women's group by providing them with the necessary startup tools for setting up a butchery venture. These tools included a variety of knives (big and small), meat chopping board, and raw meat displaying stall.

Through their savings and contributions, the group bought one camel, slaughtered it and started selling meat to prospective customers within the village and the passers-by. With growth of their income and also creativity of the women's group, they have now come up with a new business concept of value addition in their butchery enterprise. Besides selling fresh retail meat, the women group has started a new venture within the value chain by drying up meat before cutting it into small pieces then frying it. This type of dried meat which is locally knows as “Muqmadda” is always in high demand and has a high market potential.

The women sell their dried meat in Las-Anod which is approximately 50 kms away. As a result of the soaring profit and savings, the group is now planning to expand their business in the same value chain by setting up another branch in a feasible sustainable location within the district.

CASE STORY SEVEN  (NAJAX WOMEN GROUP WADAAMAGOO):

The Najax women group is based in Wadaamagoo village and is composed of 25 women.The women group engages in the water vending enterprise by buying water in bulk, harvesting and storing water for retailing and wholesale purposes.

The project supported the women group by providing them with surface water tanks that have the storage capacity of 5 barrels/drum (1 metric cube) per tank.The women's group has now expanded their water vending activities by introducing rain water harvesting through rooftop rainwater harvesting for domestic consumption.

Currently, the group adopts the most cost-effective small-scale, simple technique that requires minimum specific expertise or knowledge. They collect rainwater on the roof and convey it with gutters to the storage tanks. This harvested water resource is then used as a supplement when the commodity becomes scarce.

The women's group sells water for domestic consumption on a retailer basis as well as to the construction sector on a wholesale basis.On average the group sells 15 tanks of water (which is an equivalent of 3 metric cubes per day). A barrel (200 liters) of water costs 50,000 shillings (5 USD) whereas a jerrycan (20 liters) goes for 5,000 shillings (0.5 USD). The women's group uses some of the proceeds for maintenance of the water storage facilities, whereas the rest is set aside for saving.

The group is now in the stage of developing a new business concept that is connected to expansion of the current venture in the value chain or introduction of a new business. The water vending enterprise has alleviated the stress of buying water at exorbitant prices as well as the time to seek for the commodity from distant places.

CASE STORY EIGHT (TAWAKALA WOMEN'S GROUP, QORYAALE)

The Tawakal women group which is based in the village is composed of 20 women. The project provided solar installation panel sets with a capacity to generate 300 watts. The women's group managed to set up a small house for the purpose of using it as an operations base for their enterprise.

The Tawakal women group generates revenue of 2.4. million Somali shillings per month from the business. The enterprise sells power for charging mobile phones to approximately 40 persons per day with each mobile phone being charged at a cost of 2,000 shillings which generates 80,000 shillings per day.

In managing the income, they pay a token of 500,000 shillings to their two workers whereas 900,000 shillings is used in maintenance.The rest of the money which amounts to 1 million shillings is put in the savings account.

The act of providing the services to the rural community of Qoryaale in accessing power for charging their phones has uplifted the socio-economic status of the community in that area. The solar panels installation has facilitated generation of power for recharging other accessories such as torches, memory card recorders and shavers.

The project has boosted the wealth creation of the communities since they can easily do their trade, transact and communicate effectively with relatives, merchants and other personnel without any hindrance. The group is now envisaging expanding their business in terms of seeking other revenue generating enterprise activities.