Children Better Way .

Site last updated on September 2008 and a new site is currently under construction.

What We Do

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CBW provides a range of services to child victims of natural and man-made disasters through several programs. Services meet the educational, recreational, and sanitation and housing needs of refugee children and youth.

Microloan
Project overview
This is an income generating project for economically and socially vulnerable refugee women, that sets out to provide the means and training necessary to be self sufficient. It combines conditional small loans with business and leadership training and a mentorship programme. The project has been running since 2004 and there are currently 14 women benefitting from the scheme. The women are single mothers with no formal education, who are often illiterate.

Activities of project
The activities of the microloan team include:

1. Fortnightly visitations to beneficiaries of the scheme to encourage them and discuss any problems.
2. Collecting and monitoring monthly loan repayments, issuing receipts and chasing up repayments where necessary.
3. Holding monthly workshops to train the beneficiaries in important business skills: it is important that these are pitched at the right level and are fun as well as educational, to ensure attendance.
4. Assessing proposals from prospective new clients.

Local volunteers involved in programme
Project coordinator: Amelia

Programme timetable
Fortnightly visitations held on the second and fourth weeks of each month on Tuesday and Wednesday. Workshops held on the third Thursday of each month.

Long term aims of microloan programme
The microloan programme aims to support as many women as possible in setting up small businesses and monitor their progress so that the women can become self-sufficient.

International volunteers in microloan programme
International volunteers assist Amelia with all of her activities. Specifically, there is scope for them to:

1. Plan and deliver the monthly workshops.
2. Accompany Amelia on visitations to monitor the progress of the microloan beneficiaries.
3. Help with administrative duties, such as keeping account of repayments, assisting with contracts.
4. Assist with funding proposals to expand the scheme to benefit more women.

There are no specific qualifications required to work with the microloan programme but business skills would be useful.

It is important to read the handover notes of previous volunteers on the microloan programme to ensure continuity between volunteers.

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