AYV News, November 26, 2024
Direct Aid has supported ten vulnerable people with bidobess opportunities. As part of its empowerment project, the organization selected persons living with various forms disabilities including vision impairment, amputation, and others from different districts in the North, including Bombal, Falaba and Tonkolili districts.
Nageeb Algabawi Centre Director, Makeni said, among other things, the empowerment project is to uplift the downtrodden or vulnerable set of people, especially the physically challenged with businesses in food stuffs, building materials and more.
He added that the aim for this business opportunity is to take beggers off the streets so that they can live a dignified life.
Regent Chief of Bai Sebora chiefdom, Foday Conteh emphasised the area of sustaining the business. He therefore urged project participants to be committed so that others would benefit through the dividend of their businesses.
For direct beneficiaries, they applaud Direct Aid for its humanitarian assistance in putting a smile on their faces.
Sallay Turay, a visual impaired woman in Makeni, said the intervention is not only timely but very helpful – as the support has taken her off from street begging. She went on to say that profit from the food stuffs business would be used to support her children’s education.
Issa Turay from Falaba district expressed that this is the first time to receive such a huge support in his life. He added that, the intervention of Direct Aid has restored dignity and respect to him and his family.
Similar sentiments were expressed by other beneficiaries. They thanked donor partners for their selfless effort to support them.
Target beneficiaries used to roam streets of major towns and cities to beg – a situation they referred as unsustainable and disrespectful. While thanking Direct Aid for its continuous service to humanity, they promised to sustain their businesses so that other physically challenged persons would benefit.
The organisation confirmed that this economic empowerment project would continue in 2025, wherein more people, especially physically challenged persons, stand to benefit. The current project provides €1,000 to each of the beneficiaries.
