Community Development

The development of a healthy economy, where local people participate and benefit, is key to Kapasseni's future. As people (especially women) generate income, their wellbeing increases and they become more empowered and independent.

We are supporting economic development projects that will be stepping stones to sustainable livelihoods for the people of Kapasseni. Each project helps to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of everyone in the Kapasseni area. Our goals focus on community development through training, adult education, job creation initiatives, improving farming methods, agro forestry initiatives, and helping to generate investigating sustainable livelihoods.

Corn Grinding Mill
Kapasseni is fed by its women and girls. They tend the garden plots, harvest the grains and fruits, and prepare the food for meals. It used to take women and girls over four hours to pound the corn into flour, starting at dawn. The hours of arduous labour prevented many girls from completing their schoolwork. In 2002, the Kapasseni women wrote to us and asked for a corn grinding machine, to allow girls more time for studies and also to be an income source to the community, as people from the surrounding area would come to have their grain milled. Through generous donations, and the hard work of development worker Garry Brooks, we were able to provide Kapasseni with a corn mill in 2006.

Laura Khembo and Gina Sineya pounding corn to remove the husks, before the mill was installed

A Kapasseni woman gets corn ground at the new mill

Village Market
The area bordered by the village school, health centre, wells and gardens forms the small "downtown" where a village market takes place. A local business economy has started, and more money is able to circulate locally and generate further income for local people.

Shivon buying cloth at the Kapasseni market

Micro-finance
Going forward, micro-finance may be a way to help Kapasseni develop a sustainable economy. "Micro-finance" or "micro-credit" means very small loans, generally under $50, to local entrepreneurs to start small businesses. The income from those activities could circulate locally and create further opportunities for others in the community. As the village market shows, there is plenty of local entrepreneurial drive.

Education in practical skills and business planning is needed for local people to start their own income generating projects. We hope to find an experienced full-time development officer, to go to Kapasseni and work with the people to identify opportunities and related training needs. We have budget for micro-credit loans and are encouraging local people to bring their ideas forward. For example, local women have requested assistance to begin a clothing store in Kapasseni.