Africa-Press – Lesotho. In partnership with the International Development initiatives (IDi) – a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Lesotho, the New Zealand Embassy in Pretoria funded a poverty
alleviation and financial literacy project in Matelile. The project targets over 100 vulnerable youth to be equipped with skills in rearing indigenous chickens by the December this year.
It was funded with M219, 000 for start-up capital to buy chickens through a replication model. Beginning March this year, the initial cohort of 50 youth
benefited 1130 local indigenous chickens with each receiving an average of 22 chickens. This followed trainings on indigenous chicken farming and financial literacy
including establishing 5 Microfinance groups of 10 youth each, registered with Vodacom M-Pesa Group accounts in January after provision of the fund. According
to IDi Managing Director Keiso kolane, the project is anticipated to reach and equip over 150 youth with indigenous and local chickens rearing skills using
the same replication model by March 2021. “In the past 9 months, beneficiaries have been able to get more chicken laying eggs and hatching, as well as gaining access to the market for their eggs especially
within this difficult time of Covid-19 pandemic. The beneficiaries were however affected by the lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions but were supported through IDi focal persons based within the community and through the beneficiary WhatsApp Group,” Kolane updated.
She said the project has so far proved to be sustainable, less costly in terms of time and resources and a way of job creation among the youth at community level.
The Managing Director notified that IDi intends to replicate this country wide as the best practice with the continued support of New Zealand Embassy.
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