IRFF UK August 2023 Newsletter - Girl’s Empowerment and Skill’s Training — Edward Hartley

Girl’s Empowerment and Skill’s Training Project Gambia Vocational Education In the Kombo North District of Gambia, GESTP runs a vocation in the impoverished

town of Sukuta. Many women cannot access education because of the costs incurred

and many already have children although unmarried.

They rely on their extended family system or turn to marriage for financial support.

This becomes a strain for those who are financially responsible.

The programme facilitates financial independence for women by teaching them skills

to run their own businesses and become contributing members of society.

Margret Orr’s visit

One of IRFF-UK’s Trustees, Margret, visited

the project in Gabia in June 2023 along

with her sister and niece.

Prior to their visit, they had raised funds

to provide the project with 2 sewing

machines to enable them to add sewing to

their skills learnt.

They also provided the project with a

donated digital camera, sewing materials

(such as needles, scissors etc), new tables

and general funds to facilitate its

continuation.

During her visit, they received hands-on lessons in Tie-Dye techniques and taught the

women how to sew shopping bags and create their very own signature stamps.

Margret visited the Center for Business Development (a government-funded

programme) and had a lengthy run-through of information demonstration. They provide

free basic training courses but the option to run a programme tailored to a specific

business model is available at a cost. This would help the women to learn how to manage

money and market effectively, to support them in creating their own businesses.

The aim is for women to complete the 4- month GESTP training programme. It trains

women in the skills of batik, tie-dye and In addition, the programme will now include since Margret’s visit, sewing. how to start and manage their own business. This would facilitate their access to the tourist market.

Graduation Last year we saw 20 women graduate GESTP cohort 1. This year an additional 10 women

graduated from cohort 2, although one sadly passed away prior to gradutation.

The Future of this Project The training centre that is currently used by the program is located in a very convenient

part of Sukuta. The compound has running water, however, it is in need of repairs. The

roof needs to be made waterproof, the concrete floors need to be redone (it is broken in

many places) and it needs a borehole and water tower.

The focus for the GESTP programme now is getting the first two groups up and running

and working out the business element of the programme before accepting a new group of

women for cohort 3. A key part of this project is being environmentally friendly through

recycling and producing high-quality goods. Women successful in this will ideally go on to

become teachers for the programme themselves.

If this project is of interest to you, perhaps you can consider supporting it by donating today. Ultimately we want to help projects become self-sustainable so that we can continue to provide help to others in need.

Help GESTP today

To find out more about other projects we support Click here

The Crisis v About Us Stories Cont act Us Ill For millions of children around the worl d, access to Education ed ucation is a distant dream. In many parts of the Education in third-world countries developing world, children are forced to work from a young age or are denied an education due to poverty, conflict, or other societa l factors. • Our belief

Al IRFF UK, we believe that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering individuals and communities to reach their full potential. Join us as we explore the challenges • faced by children in the developing world and the ways in which we are working to make a difference .

• • How IRFF UK helps Discover how our projects are making a difference in the lives of children in developing countries by reading about them below.

Uganda Ghana DR Congo Gambia SA - Shine SA - Slovo Senegal

Senegal A L’ecole Yonent Mame Ibrahima (Primary)

Meet the project V

The Problem V

What is offered V

How IRFF UK contributes V

Here are some statistics related to education in developing countries

According to UNESCO, there are Of those who do attend school, Girls are me approximately 262 million children around 617 million are not able to school than and youth who do not read or do basic math. girls comple attend school. school.

When education is available

Education can have a transformative impact on the lives of children in third-world countries. With an ed ucation, they can gain the skills and knowledge needed to break the cycle of poverty, contribute to their communities , and create a better future fo r themselves and their families.

Education can also lead to improved health outcomes, increased gender equality, and reduced rates of child

• marri age and other harmful practices. By investing in education for children in third-world countries, we can help build a brighter, more equitable world for everyone.

• Health Outcomes Gender Equality Reduced Child Marriage •

The Crisis Get Involved Stories Stay Up To Date

Period Poverty Donate Subscribe to our newsletter

Empowering Communities and Changing Lives Education Ema1. • , Charity Number: 281776

irffukhq@gmail.com

98 Dyke Drive Orpington BR54LZ

The Crisis v About Us Stories Cont act Us Ill • Empowering Communities and • Changing Lives IRFF UK uplifts those most in need th rough educat ion, healt hca re, and support initiat ives. As a non-p rofit, we’re • driven by a passion to m ake a difference in t he wor ld.

Read our an nual report here

What we do IRFF UK’s Two Core Areas of Focus

• • • Fighting Period Poverty Providing Education

Learn more > Learn more >

Our Goal Help Us make a Difference

2023 Fundraising Progress 20%

- £12,189 £2811 raised

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• latest and exciting stories from t he field .

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• Featured Campaigns

Become a Destiny Junior SHINE at Walmer School in Slovo Study Group Port School Donor for £10 a Port Elizabeth, South Africa Elizabeth, South Africa month

Learn more ) Learn more ) Learn more )

30,000 people helped ( 0,1 • 1’\I D …ITH

IRFF UK has positively impacted the lives of 30,000 people t hrough its various support init iatives.

40 projects completed • Destiny Junior School has provided invaluable educational opportu nities for numerous children who otherwise would not

• have had access to t hem.

Proje ts that become self-sustainable Tha nks to ou r effo rts in removing j iggers, thousands of people ca n now wa lk freely w ithout pa in. We are proud to have made a posit ive impact on the lives of so ma ny and will continue ou r m ission to alleviate suffering around th e worl d.

What our donors are saying

Your efforts in the areas of The Women’s Federation for World I have been happy to supp, education, health and sustainability Peace, South London, has been projects that IRFF is runnin are vital in certain countries and supporting Destiny Junior School Uganda. In particular, I ha, truly appreciated.My family will through IRFF-UKfor more than 12 donated funds towards the continue to sponsor a child at years. Our ladies sincerely had been of a perimeter wall and al

• Destiny Junior School in Uganda, helping to provide a better place for at Destiny School. I really a and will endeavour to support other the children of Destiny Junior School the good work IRFF has bet causes that IRFF UK informs us in Uganda. We believe Education over the years to help about. and health are the most important people/children in Africa. things for the life of the child.

Marshall de Souza Joyce Suda Destiny School Sponsor Dolores Read Destiny School Donor Destiny School Sponsor

Join us in making a difference Choose amount ~ • o o • Every donation IOne-time Pf’”’ You can log in to edit your recurring donation any time 0 counts You will d irectly be improving the lives of those in need around £ 5 £10 £ 25 t he world. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a significant impact. £ Custom Amount

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Yes, I am a UK taxpayer and I wou ld like IRFF UK to reclaim the tax on all qualifying donations I have made, as well as any future donations, until I notify them otherwise. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

The Crisis Get Involved Stories Stay Up To Date

Period Poverty Donate Subscribe to our newslett er

Empowering Communities and Changing Lives Education Er1,i1 • , Charity Number: 281776

1rffukhq@gma il.com

98 Dyke Drive Orp ington