The Family Development Project in Chole, an undertaking of the Divine Presence Region Ethiopia/South Sudan Uganda, focuses on the overall development of women and their families.
Women are the backbone in of the family and they are the key to sustainable development and quality of life. Women assume the roles of wife, mother, leader administrator, etc.
The project was able to support 590 women and their families. One of the big challenges the women face is socio economic. Mothers here like to work but do not have enough means to start a small-scale business.
One of the main goals of the project is to make women economically independent so that they can take care of themselves and their families and become agents of transformation.
A small amount of initial capital was given as a revolving fund to start petty cash trade. More than that, the project introduced the SILC (saving and Internal lending communities) whereby they have their own savings and can lent lend money to each other and support each other.
There were women, who, in the beginning, did not understand the value of saving and only waited for support from other people. Through the SILC program, they learned the value of saving and found it helpful in their lives and families. They were given different trainings on income generating activities and basic business skills. The beneficiaries were very happy because the skills they learned opened their minds and hearts toward better profit.
Among the changes observed were that the women have greater self-confidence now, started sending their children to school and met all their basic needs. The women who could not afford to provide three meals a day changed their lifestyle and children enjoyed three meals a day and are were happy once again.
Gatherings of women twice a month gave them an opportunity to share stories of happiness and struggles with their companions. It also lightened their burden, making them more fulfilled. What is more, they took up their responsibility with greater enthusiasm.
Marital skills training was given to couples and two of them who were on the verge of divorce getting divorced decided not to push through with it. A man who was always drunka, who Ill-treated his wife, gave up drinking and now takes care of his wife and children. Because of the change in their lives and the positive influence they have on others, they were chosen as model couples in the village.
The Sisters’ presence here really made a crucial difference. Our compassionate attitude opened our eyes to the reality around us and responded to it together with our lay partners. It was a challenge at the beginning not to make people dependent on us. The sisters tapped the resources hidden in the people recognize their own self-worth and their capacity to work hard and take care of their family.
In one of our meetings with women, one expressed that “being part of the project is a great opportunity for us. Because we are greatly enlightened by different workshops and trainings and your very presence, which made us learn a lot and we even changed our attitudes. We were very much narrow minded before now our horizons have widened. Even if you sisters leave the place we know how to live and you have taught us the lessons to live.”
That is the lasting change that we have made among the people in Chole and its surroundings.
Sr. Lovely Thomas SSpS – Region of Ethiopia/South Sudan
