In 2014, 1000 CGs was trained on Income Generating Activities (IGA) under the HES activity after which a total number of 16 Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) groups were formed. Before the training 80% of the caregivers are not into any income generating business. However, in April 2015 a total number of 180 Caregivers were given an approximate loan of N567, 000 as a result of this empowerment, now 10 communities CGs are now engaged in different local businesses such as Groundnut oil processing, petty trading, making local supergetti (Murijin Talia), tailoring, indoors restaurant, palm oil selling and rice processing.

After the Training of IGA on Caregiver Business Development, Mallam Shuaibu Barau Jimi is a vulcanizer in Jimi community and was married with three wives and 11 children whom he is taking care of, in his vulcanizing work he was able to patched only motorcycle and bicycle tyres which he use to collect money ranging from N300.00 to N400.00 daily and with this amount catered daily, he use it for subsistence of his household and other personal needs without thinking of advancing it to gain more income but after the training of caregivers on business development, he now realized that he can do more to improve his ways of income generation. Therefore he decided to save N150.00 only every day after five months he used the money he saved and bought air-filler/air-pumping machine. Since then he started handling patch for car and bigger lorry tyres as a result that he is able to generate better income per day ranging from N1500 to N2200". As his income increases so also does his savings increases to N500 − N1000 daily.

Since from that time he began to developed ideas on how to make his income generating activities great. Therefore, shortly after two months of purchased of his air pumping machine, someone brought a simple milling machines to their village and he bought the machine at the rate of N38,000.00 now he is able to get up to N2000.00 from the milling (grinding) machine. Moreover, Mallam Shuaibu was able to buy 2 goats from his savings.

Mallam Shuaibu is now happy and proud of his business since his children are feeding well and attending school and handle their needs without tears. Following the successes recorded, now five children including three of his children are undergoing grinding machine and depleted tyre patching training with him.

"He was so happy with the training he had from Fahimta Organization which is about a year, now he would have been a petty person but he discovered how to expand in business to be able to fight poverty. So he made up his mind to be self-reliant to enable him take care of his children"

Mal. Haruna Garba mai shago in Bashe community appreciating the benefits he gained in the training on IGAs, it really nmade an impacts and a good turn around in his business, family, and his children needs. In the same vein mal shagari Adamu mai kayan gwari said before his business was not that strong but since after the training when started applying what he learned, he business began to increased and now his owns motor cycle, bought 3 goats and his family can eat even more than three times a day and he can equally take care of the needs of his family.

Isah Safiyanu testified that before the training on household economic strengthening activities he only engage in farming activities and immediately after the training he sold some grains and engage in IGAs and open provision store, since then he never lend money from someone, he added that, I am still making some effort and some business strategies to grow better than this, I and my family now are doing well as a result of this business.

Zubaida Adamu was sensitised during the income generating activity and thereafter she engaged in vocational(tailoring) which enable her to save some tokens that she uses to take care of her little children which has improved her living standard and Saude Badamasi, after the income generating activity training she engaged in local Adashe group which help her to purchased two set of school uniforms for her two children and her children are now happy and eager to go to school every day.

Rakiya Tela was counselled and sensitised on child abuse which has helped her in maintaining her children rights and protection and it has made her realized that flogging of children is not the best way to correct a child.

As a result of home visit conducted by mal. Sani Adamu in Bashe community, realised that many women in their community are not using the long lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets distributed to them, then CCPC conducted a sensitization campaign in the entire village on the importance of sleeping under mosquito net and other child protection issues, now reported that: out of 30 households he do attend for the home visit 12 of them started using their treated mosquito nets that they received and keep without use.

A household head of HH0281 of Bashe community in person of Mohammed Danliti appreciate the fact that as result of sensitization visit conducted by CCPC two ago on environmental sanitation, personal hygiene and effect of taking dangerous drugs and after the sensitization visit the community leaders gave order and stopped selling of illicit drugs in the community.

Kyata community CPC/ Quality Improvement Team conducted a school visit to kyata primary school and during the visit after the visit they identified and enrolled 5 children back to school and sensitized their parents on the importance of education and assisted 6 vulnerable children with cloths, mates, blankets and shoes.

“My name is Rhoda Haruna, 40 years –a mother of 5(3 males and 2 female) from Kazar community, I use my farming activity to support my husband and households; I was opportuned to attend training away from my community and couldn’t understand what the facilitator was saying because he speaks English and to my surprise, other women farmers were communicating with the facilitator. I could not step down learning’s from the training because of my inability to understand what the facilitator what saying and this made me to enroll in the adult literacy class for a period of two years. Now I can read, communicate and share training lessons with other women in my community, this makes me happy always. Thank you my beloved ActionAid and FAWOYDI for your support.’’

As a result of this intervention, at least more than 70% women in my community can now read and write and they are using knowledge gained to document their livelihood activities as individual and as a group.

Jauro Manu is a traditional leader who picked interest in education as a result of NEI PLUS project implementation in his community of Ibbawo Misau LGA. Although he was not enrolled into the project, he voluntarily developed interest to learn and encourage the people of his community through his decision. Here is his story.

“My Name is Jauro Manu from IbbawoAjili community of Misau LGA in Bauchi State. I am about 60 years. I normally use to sit to watch my pupils (almajirai) learn at my center (tsangaya), as time passes by I also join my students to learn, I noticed that I was reading and spelling with my grandchildren and other learners enrolled, I could not read or write after the invention of FAWOYDI/NEI+ which changed my life for better, now I can read, Thank you FAWOYDI/NEI Plus".

NUTRITION

Husna Shu’aibu’s condition was identified by FAWOYDI/STEER Project Nutrition Program Officer via: Community Volunteer and the condition is Malnourished .The situation has impacted on the growth and development of the child thus, the baby is now vulnerable to diseases as a result of poor and inadequate diet. Husna Shu’aibu is two year old, exhibited physical attributes of marasmus, the hair was yellowish. The result of MUAC (Mid Upper Arm Circumference measurement was 11.3cm and she weight 6.2kg.

FAWOYDI and STEER Project has helped in enhancing the capacity of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Bauchi State and in Ningi STEER Project Community, and in Community Infant and Young Child feeding (C-IYCF), Support Group Meetings. The knowledge gained has increased the capacity of project officers working on the STEER project to be able to identify malnutrition cases and proffer counselling to the members of the community and beneficiaries on the best possible way of managing the situation. SPRING also provides technical support on the field during nutrition activities. The nutrition component is an entirely new approach to our nutrition intervention in the community, thus caregivers are gradually changing their beliefs and behaviours. The major challenge encountered at the course of service delivery is the gradual acceptance of the new ideas on nutrition.

The health/nutritional conditions of the Husna Shu’iabu have improved since FAWOYDI/TEER Project Implement/Engaged the caregiver and the members of the community on (C-IYCF) Community Infant and Young Child Feeding, and Nutrition Education and Counseling are now members of the nutrition support group in the community and also registered for antenatal care services which they had never done prior to our intervention. Husna Shu’aibu responded to treatment, measured 13.7cm (MUAC) proper complementary meals are introduced in the household for her since the caregiver joined the support group. Through the support groups formed, some of the beliefs/attitudes of the community in the area of C-IYCF are gradually changing. It is observed that communities have different cultural beliefs, hence there will be a need to confront each community according to its own peculiarities Experiences learnt so far can help give informed decisions on implementation of project also enhance the standard of living of the households living in the community by adopting proper nutritional meals. The case in question have also availed the members of the community the opportunity to see that proper complimentary diet can enhance the health condition of Infant and on individual.

As part of the mandate on the USAID project to provide care and support for vulnerable children and their household, the services rendered are in line with the nutrition and health services which are part of the thematic areas. The family (mother and Father) are now members of GYARAKAYANKA Support Group in Tiffi Community where they do held their monthly meeting on Community Infant and Young Child Feeding, Complimentary Feeding, Four Star Diet, Educated also on Nutritional Education and Counseling using Locally Available food found in their Community and are happy for the OVC intervention.