Training, equipment and a helping hand can enable vulnerable Nigerian Christian women to support their families
What if the skills in your hands could become the means of feeding your family?
For Christian widows in Nigeria, finding a way to earn a living can be an enormous challenge. With no regular income to rely on, meeting everyday needs and caring for their children is a constant struggle.
But a small opportunity can make a lasting difference.
Barnabas Aid plans to support around 50 Christian widows by providing food-processing training to help them develop skills to generate an income. But these plans can only become a reality with your support. They will be trained to make and sell products such as kulikuli (groundnut cake), plantain chips and potato chips – turning everyday ingredients into a source of livelihood.
Five widows each year will be provided with essential equipment through a revolving scheme, beginning with five grinding machines. Rather than being a one-off gift, each machine will be repaid in manageable instalments. Once repaid, the money can be used to provide equipment for another widow.
In this way, your support can keep moving from one woman to another.
As the scheme develops, further equipment such as refrigerators and food-processing machines can help more widows take the next step towards running their own small businesses.
For a Christian widow, this can mean more than an opportunity to earn money. It can mean being able to contribute towards food, school costs and other household needs. It can mean greater confidence in her ability to provide for her family. And it can mean knowing that the work of her hands can make a difference (Proverbs 31:31).
For some women, training alone is not enough. They also need the right equipment to get started
Will you help give a vulnerable Christian widow an opportunity to earn an income?
How you can pray
Lord God and Good Shepherd, thank You for our Christian brothers and sisters in Nigeria. We pray especially for widows who are seeking ways to provide for their families. Give them strength, wisdom and perseverance as they learn new skills and develop their livelihoods. Bless the work of their hands and use this project to bring provision and hope to many households. We pray for all those who give and serve through this ministry. May their generosity continue to bless others far into the future. In the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
How you can give
£6 ($7; €6.60) could help provide training materials for a widow learning food-processing skills
£36 ($43; €40) could help provide food-processing equipment to help a widow begin developing an income-generating activity
£150 ($180; €165) could provide a grinding machine for a widow through the revolving scheme
$12 could help provide training materials for a widow learning food-processing skills
$72 could help provide food-processing equipment to help a widow begin developing an income-generating activity
$300 could provide a grinding machine for a widow through the revolving scheme
00-356 (Economic empowerment)