Programs

• Agriculture/Livestock Promotion.
• Training Seminars/Workshops.
• Micro-Savings and Credit.
• Information and Communication Centre.
• Social Theatre

Programme Goal: To promote gender equality by:

a) Seeking increased leadership roles for women in the political, social and economic spheres
b) Raising the awareness of women on reproductive health and population issues
c) Securing increased access to credit for women
d) Advocating equal property rights for women and the girl child
e) Improving the entrepreneurial capacity of women
f) Developing the advocacy skills of women

Target: Women members and grassroots women in the community - petty traders, backyard livestock breeders, peasants, school leavers, small craftswomen, widows, single parent mothers

Activities: Self-help Promotion; HIV/AIDS sensitisation, Health Education Talks; Homemaking skills; Management of Income Generating Activities; Micro Savings and Credit Scheme, Theatre for awareness building

Management: Management is by an elected, all woman leadership team of 5, working in collaboration with the Organisation's Delegate and the full time female Administrative Assistant.
Current Programme: Sensitisation of Women on Women's Rights and Reproductive Health; Improving on the Leadership and Entrepreneurial capacity of women; Training of women's groups on credit management; Sourcing of more funds for women's micro-projects; Computer Literacy Training for women and girls; Networking to develop enduring partnerships with local and international organisations that share our gender vision; Political sensitization through theatre to mainstream women in municipal governance ( the play Sarah Politik screened on national TV in 2000 and subsequently staged in 6 locations in the South West Province between 2001 and 2002).

Buea-One Hundred And Fifty Farmers Benefit From Nkong And NEF Support

Nkong Hill Top Common Initiative Group based in Buea, on July12 finished the distribution of inputs to support 164 vegetable farmers, 111 of whom are women, in Fako Division. This assistance is part of a two-year project run by Nkong CIG and financed by the National Employment Fund, Limbe. The project aims at reducing poverty among farmers, by providing them with sustainable production skills and in-kind/cash micro-credit support worth 68.000frs. It falls within NEF's rural employment programme (PADER).

Using a participatory approach Nkong personnel did a needs survey and analysis with the beneficiaries. Training workshopsand then delivery of inputs and cash credit to the farmers followed this. Notable in the training was a module on HIV/AIDS awareness which was highly appreciated by the farmers.

It was all joy when the farmers received the training and the loans. In Mamu, Mrs. Aneyou Sarah, one of the beneficiaries from United Women's Group, could not hide her feelings: "I really appreciate Nkong CIG and NEF Limbe for their efforts to reach the rural people. We pray that God continues to forster their efforts," she said.

In Bolifamba (Mile 16) it was the same feeling: "We are very happy that these inputs will enable us to double our efforts," another beneficiary said, proudly sporting his newly acquired rainboots. "We pray that God should guide and inspire Nkong to come up with more projects like this, to target other forms of farming," he went on.

In the course of the project, Nkong CIG will follow-up the farmers with technical and business advisory services as well as recover the loans.

Participants at Great Soppo Training

At the end, Nkong CIG and NEF Limbe expect the farmers to be self-sustaining. Speaking to farmers during one of the training sessions in Soppo, Buea, the NEF Service Chief for Independent Employment & Training, Mr Mbe Augustine, urged the farmers to take their work seriously so as to make of vegetable cultivation a permanent income generating activity and thence a means of improving on their standard of living. Since NEF encourages employment everywhere, this is how it can assist farmers he went on to say.

In every community, the beneficiaries have promised to increase their production and to repay their loans on time. Mr Anu Vincent, the Delegate of Nkong CIG, has assured farmers that the current project is the beginning of a lasting relationship Nkong wishes to have with them. "I assure you, there are better days ahead. But our interest in you and your groups depends on how committed you turn out to be in our present engagement," he told farmers in a joint meeting in Bolifamba-Mile 16.

CAPACITY BUILDING

NCIG receives students on internship from institutions providing training on development such as the Pan African Institute for Development West Africa ( PAID-WA), Community Development Specialisation School, Kumba and the Department of Women's Studies in the University of Buea.

Others come from institutes providing computer literacy training.

DISTINCTIONS

Nkong Hill Top Common Initiative Group (NCIG) were pioneer winners of the South West Provincial Best Award for promoting women's income generating activities, a prize first awarded during the 1999 International Day of the Woman. The trophy was presented by H.E the Governor of the South West Province. The NCIG improved maize seed farm won first prize at the Provincial Agriculture Show in Buea, in December 2000.