Resilience & Life Skills
Empowering youth through vocational training and helping rural communities fight poverty through savings and income-generating activities.
Vocational Training
To empower youth socially and economically, CFO contributes to building resilience and life skills by providing training on essential life skills and entrepreneurship.
We share and provide guidance on job creation to graduates of vocational training programs, helping them transition from learning to earning and contributing to their communities.
Income Generating Activities
As part of helping rural communities fight poverty and improve their lives, CFO sensitizes communities to form Village Saving and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
Members contribute small amounts on a weekly basis, building savings that can be used to start micro businesses. This approach promotes financial independence and community cooperation.
Program Components
Vocational Training
Building practical skills through hands-on training in various trades and crafts
Entrepreneurship Education
Teaching business fundamentals and entrepreneurial mindset development
Job Creation Guidance
Supporting graduates with guidance and connections for employment
Village Savings (VSLA)
Facilitating savings groups where members contribute weekly and access micro-loans
Micro Business Planning
Helping members develop and execute business plans using their savings
Financial Literacy
Training in managing money, recording transactions, and savings benefits
Village Saving & Loan Associations
A VSLA is a group of 10-25 people who save together and take small loans from those savings. The activities of the VSLA take about one year, after which the accumulated savings and profits are shared among members according to their contributions.
CFO organizes trainings to equip members with basic knowledge in micro credit group management, recording transactions properly, preparing micro business plans, and understanding the benefits of savings.
Through various activities including farming, breeding, selling agricultural products, tailoring, and savings that generate profits, members earn money and improve their livelihoods.
- Micro credit group management
- Recording transactions properly
- Preparing micro business plans
- Benefits of savings
- Business management
- Marketing strategies
- Sewing techniques
- Sanitary pad production
Program Achievements
25
VSLAs in Kamonyi District
30
Savings Groups in Gatsibo
RwF 2.2M+
Total Savings in One Year
4
Women Associations Established
40
Women Trained in Pad Production
20
Sewing Machines Distributed
Sanitary Pad Production
Four women associations with 40 members have been established, trained on menstruation, MHM, law governing cooperatives, business management, and sanitary pad production.
They have been equipped with 20 sewing machines and all necessary items for a sanitary pad laboratory. They produce reusable sanitary pads and sell their products to community members.
“Women are very excited for having successfully produced the sanitary pads. They confirmed enhanced self-confidence in business management and marketing.”
Women's Associations
With the Gatsibo Project and Integrated Sanitation Project, CFO linked Community Hygiene Clubs to income-generating activities, savings schemes, and economic activities such as business, breeding, and agriculture.
The training on business management has been very successful in nurturing cash production. Women managed their businesses successfully and improved hygiene at household and community levels.
Learning from women association members, Girl's Club members from 3 schools (GS Bibare, GS Bugarura, and TVET Sainte Josephine) requested training on making reusable sanitary pads. They now produce pads distributed within their schools.
INEZA Project VSLAs
Within 6 months of the INEZA project timeline, CFO initiated 25 VSLAs in 3 sectors of Kamonyi District (Karama, Rukoma, Gacurabwenge). During the project Open Day, District Authorities visited VSLA groups and appreciated the growth of the savings groups.
One year after the groups were established in Gatsibo, the total savings across all 30 groups exceeded RwF 2,202,670 - demonstrating the power of community-based savings in fighting poverty.
Invest in Community Resilience
Your support helps communities build sustainable livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty.