Women's Empowerment Project Update: Tonj South
Women's Empowerment Project Show Remarkable Growth
In Tonj South County, the comprehensive approach to women's empowerment continues to yield remarkable results across water access, sanitation, livelihoods, and financial independence.
Water Infrastructure Sustains Community Growth
The community kiosks managed by the Tonj South Women Group generated 600,000 SSP ($103) in cumulative income while maintaining essential services. Strategic investments in infrastructure maintenance—including roof repairs and security—demonstrate the group's commitment to long-term sustainability. An emergency reserve of 95,000 SSP ($16) ensures rapid response to any water point repair needs.
Health and Hygiene Reach Expands
Hygiene promoters achieved impressive community engagement, reaching 709 individuals including 149 girls, 114 boys, 277 women, 146 men, and 23 people with disabilities. This comprehensive approach ensures that health knowledge spreads throughout the entire community.
Livelihoods Training Creates Economic Opportunities
Thirty women actively participate in ongoing tailoring training, developing cutting and design skills that open doors to both personal use and income generation. The program's focus on reusable menstrual pad production adds a crucial health dimension to the economic benefits.
Kitchen Gardening Success Story
The kitchen gardening initiative has become a remarkable success story. Four completed harvests of purslane, amaranthus, arugula, and kale generated 60,000 to 70,000 SSP ($10-$12) per participant. Kale emerged as particularly profitable and a favorite among the women, with just four leaves selling for 1,000 SSP ($0.17).
Responding to market demand, the group has expanded to three kale plots alongside arugula and okra plantings. Eggplant seedlings are currently in nursing beds and will be transplanted after the arugula harvest, ensuring continuous production cycles.
Rebecca Lado, Chairperson of the Kitchen Gardening Group, captured the transformation perfectly: "We no longer have to rely on our husbands for money to care for our children's health and other household needs. The program has not only improved our economic well-being but also boosted our confidence and decision-making power within the household."
Financial Independence Through Saving for Transformation
The Saving for Transformation (S4T) approach continues to demonstrate exceptional results. Between April and June, 30 women saved 1,546,000 SSP ($267) from vegetable sales, creating the foundation for their Village Savings and Loan Association participation.
July savings reached new heights:
VSLA Group 1: 25 members with cumulative savings of 1,250,000 SSP ($216)
VSLA Group 2: 30 members with cumulative savings of 1,200,000 SSP ($207)
The loan program's three-cycle performance showcased the model's effectiveness, generating 844,480 SSP ($146) in profit from an initial capital of 1,160,000 SSP ($200) over three months.
Thriving Communities in Tonj
In Tonj South, the thriving gardens demonstrate how agricultural innovation combined with skills training and financial literacy empowers women to transform their communities from within. Each project component works together to ensure that benefits extend far beyond individual participants, creating sustainable change that strengthens entire communities.
The project continues to build momentum. Expanding agricultural activities and ongoing training programs promise even greater achievements ahead.
Stay tuned and follow us on our social media platforms for more exciting updates about the Women's Empowerment Projects. Thank you for your commitment to supporting this vital work.
