Livelihood Development Programs

FHIDO’s economic empowerment of families of orphans and vulnerable children is one of important interventions in addressing the basic necessities of the family and their children especially in addressing their health needs and improve access to education and improved nutrition. As part of this, FHIDO has been engaged in identifying and forming marginalized community groups including caregivers and parents to economically empower and become self-reliant through the establishment of CSSGs and VSLA groups to increase the role of women in economic empowerment of community and capacitate them through trainings.  FHIDO’s engagement to establish and strengthen CSSG/ VSLA groups increased their saving habits and to access more loans to build working capital of members and expand and diversify their businesses. Moreover, other than economic benefits, the establishment of VSLA groups and their continuous meetings and saving created opportunity to improve their social bond and share experiences from one another on different social issues.

The use of support for individual caregivers with trainings and startup capitals was also another strategy in empowering care givers economically. To enhance the knowledge and skills of parents/guardians on how to establish and run a certain business individually, relevant trainings have been organized for mothers who are economically unprivileged and less benefitted. After each trainings and their business plans, target individual care givers have been provided start up materials like washing machine, refrigerator, sewing machine and onion grinder which served them a wheel to proactively engage in business activities and earn better income. The involvement of individual mothers from low economic background in the IGA scheme through the provision of trainings on business selection planning and management and provision of start-up materials created opportunity to engage in a business of their choice in their community settings to earn better income to support their children with basic necessities. The intervention in the capacity building orientations and trainings as well as saving kits and startup materials improved knowledge and skills of parents and care givers on saving and business management and facilitated for their smooth operation and successful launch of microenterprise and manage the microenterprise effectively which contributed for their improved household income. Again the improved household income has also augmented access of basic needs of enrolled children like education, nutrition and health. FHIDO has good past record of working with the youth for their development and inclusive growth and economically empowering the youth, which has the potential of integrating the values of a good and productive citizen in youth, motivating them to lead a normal life by providing them a platform to develop and showcase their skills. It has been benefiting most marginalized and vulnerable group of youth within the project areas and developed them into a productive and empowered citizen thereby reducing unemployment rate among the target community through the implementation of youth livelihood interventions. Target youth have been supported to start their own business to lead an independent and dignified life through the vocational skill trainings and startup material support. The different training such as life kill, youth leadership, SRH and other related interventions also played crucial role by reducing youth delinquency and related problems. The organization has supported for more than 1500 youth in vocational training and start up materials and capitals wherein, most of the beneficiaries are successfully placed in satisfactory jobs. The interventions, unemployed youth who have been provided vocational trainings and start up materials have shown increased capability to become competitive in the market and engage profitable business.