PROPOSAL ON THE ORGANISATION OF A 4-WEEK EMPOWERMENT CAMP FOR BLIND WOMEN IN NIGERIA

PROPOSAL ON THE ORGANISATION OF A 4-WEEK EMPOWERMENT CAMP FOR BLIND WOMEN IN NIGERIA
Background

In accordance with the provisions of the revised National Constitution of the Nigeria Association of the Blind (NAB), to facilitate full participation of blind and partially sighted women and girls in the grassroots in all activities and programs of the NAB as well as other organizations in their various communities with the aim to enable them enjoy equal opportunities and live fulfilled lives despite their peculiar kind of disability, national representatives for the Women’s Committee were elected at the association’s National congress which took place in October, 2010 at Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.

To help these representatives perform their duties, a 2-day training of trainers workshop was organized for them at Umuahia, Abia State very early in , 2011.
Two years after their election into various offices, very little has been done to fulfill this mandate because the women representatives were mainly elected for various factors but mostly lack the ability and relevant mobilization skills for grassroots participation and transfer of knowledge.
Problem Statement
There is a desperate and urgent need to build the capacity of blind and partially sighted women and girls across Nigeria as a foundation for constructive and effective leadership especially before the 2014 elections of the Association. This is expected to result in effective mobilization of the target group for infiltration into society and enjoyment of equal opportunities.
Goal
The major goal of the exercise is to enhance effective leadership/mobilization abilities among blind and partially sighted women and girls in Nigeria.
Objectives
To enhance the leadership skills of blind and partially sighted women and girls in Nigeria by:
1. Empowering them to make informed choices relating to productive health, sexuality and family planning.
2. Facilitating their acquisition of skills in independent living.
3. Empowering them for self-advocacy and enjoyment of women rights.
4. facilitating their acquisition of skills for entrepreneurship and economic independence
This would help discover, expose and enhance the utilization of the potentials and abilities of participants in the favorable participatory environment that would have been created.
Activities
1. Conduct one (1) self-catering four-week camp for 40 blind and partially sighted women and girls in each of the 6 geo-political Zones of Nigeria
2. Run 4 simultaneous workshops each week for 10 participants and swop participants weekly so that each person participates in the four (4) workshops.
3. do follow-up and referrals for specific identified cases of abuse or denial of rights.
Components/contents
The training is expected to be for four (4) weeks. It will be cost-effective because participants will cater for themselves in a camp within their own geo-political Zone and lecturers who will facilitate the workshops in the local language using local examples will be recruited from The immediate community. The training will utilize a participatory approach to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and skills while an experienced Consultant will be engaged to facilitate the process.
Monitoring and Evaluation
The National President of the Women’s Department would conduct field trips to each of the camps for the purpose of monitoring the systematic impartation of relevant knowledge that would enhance the building of the leadership capacities of participants. For each workshop, pre-test and post-test sessions during which stories and experiences are shared by participants will be conducted to evaluate and determine the level of knowledge and skill transfer.
Expected Outcome
 240 blind women and girls nationwide are able to articulate and make informed choices regarding sexuality, reproductive health and family planning
 daily living skills are improved among 240 blind and partially sighted women and girls
 ability of 240 blind and partially sighted women and girls to advocate for themselves and protect their rights as members of the feminine gender is enhanced
 240 blind and partially sighted women and girls have improved ability to make choices relating to economic independence.
Documentation
 The impact of the intervention scheme will be stories written by identified women and girls on their experiences before, during and after the 4-week exercise.
 Full report of the workshops will be documented and submitted to partners along with relevant Means of Verification (MOVs) to be collated. This will form part of the general report to be submitted by the Women’s Committee of the NAB.
Place
One (1) camping site will be selected in each of the six (6) geo-political Zones of Nigeria in identified locations.
Estimated Cost
Total cost per camp equals N1,799,000.00 (one million, seven hundred and ninety-nine thousand Naira) and grand total = 7,496,000.00 (seven million, four hundred and ninety-six thousand Naira)
Item Amount
feeding N700,000
Sanitation N9,000
Facilitation N100,000
Volunteers 35,000
First aid box 15,000
Road Transportation @ 5,000 x 40 N200,000
Vocational/training materials N250,000
Recreation N200,000
Video/photos N30,000
Consultation fee N150,000
miscellaneous N100,000 000
total N1,799,000

GRAND-TOTAL N7,496,000.00