AgnesOnyekwere

In Ogun State, Nigeria where I reside more women than men shoulder the burden of family care but over 60% of these women lack sustainable livelihoods, severely impacting their ability to support their children's education. Consequently, a staggering 70% of children arrive at school hungry, 55% lack proper uniforms and learning materials, and 45% are absent due to economic activities like hawking (UNICEF, 2023). Our solution to this problem of lack of sustainable livelihoods amongst mothers in low-income communities is Project MEND an initiative geared towards empowering mothers in low-income communities with the hard-skills as well as the soft skills they need to not just earn a living but thrive economically. In 2023 we launched our first phase Project MEND 1.0 where we started training women in bag making and giving them sewing machines. What is the mission of your initiative?* To empower mothers with the skills needed for economic independence, enabling them to provide for their children's basic needs. Through Project MEND, we train women in practical and soft skills, fostering sustainable livelihoods and community development.