SEEPD Program adds another stream to its livelihood component: CIBAN to soon go operational
A 10 day workshop to train Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) field workers and field agents on the Community Initiative Based Advance Njangi (CIBAN) has ended in Bamenda . The workshop was organized recently by the Socio Economic Empowerment of persons with Disabilities (SEEPD) Program with the objective to train the participants on the new concept CIBAN which is another stream to the livelihood component of the program
The CIBAN initiative came against the backdrop of a visit two years ago to the SEEPD Program by the then CBM Livelihood Advisor Husbert whom after examining the livelihood opportunities offered by the SEEPD Program underlined that there were limited to improve on the livelihood of persons with disability. In this regard, Husbert proposed the Village Saving and Loan Imitative (VSLI) which according to him has proven to be successful in other countries of the world. He explains that VSLI are groups created in the villages which bring together persons with disability to save their money and loan it whenever they want.
After consultation meetings on how workable this method can be in the NWR, the SEEPD Program then decided to initiate the method with a change of name from VSLI to CIBAN so that it can fit in the context of the NWR .
It is for this reason that the field workers selected from five Divisions where CIBAN will be piloted and field agents were trained on the 16 principles of CIBAN and strategies on how to implement it in Boyo, Bui, Donga Mantung , Menchuam , and Momo Divisions .
According to the CBR Supervisor Mr Kechi Joseph, the choice of the 5 Divisions selected was based on the fact that these areas are semi urban or rural areas where many of persons with disability there do not have access to services.
He expatiated that SEEPD Program has three streams of livelihood being, Vocational training, formal employment, Micro Loans through WINHEECAM, and CIBAN now is coming in to add the streams so as to expand the livelihood opportunities for persons with disability He added that CIBAN will be an inclusive scheme made up of both persons with and without disability but with persons with disability taking lead in the management. Mr Kenchi said the SEEPD Program is just coming in to strengthen the existing Njangi groups in the community to better save and loan money
During the training, it was revealed that CIBAN will be piloted for one year beginning this year so that the results recorded can be used to plan for its full implementation in the 4th phase of the SEEPD Program.
The role of each party has clearly been spelt out during the training. The SEEPD Program which is the main initiator, will provide safe for all the 10 groups in the 5 divisions , training materials, training to the groups and field agents , approval of groups before its commencement, carry out monitoring and supervision visits to all the groups amongst others.
The trained field agents and field workers on their part will work with the already existing njangi groups in their areas, introduce the CIBAN idea to them and community stokeholds, establish a constitution, and management community, selection of members to be in the scheme which will make the group meet the requirement to be approved by the SEEPD Program
Speaking to a development consultant Mr Luice Wangya Fomugang who was the main trainer of the workshop said each selected group will have 15 to 25 members for effective management. He explains that with CIBAN which is very effective, members come together, save their money and loan it when they want to loan but under stick CIBAN constitution which makes it more effective and different from other local njangi .
According to him, CIBAN enables members to be able to be financially autotomy given that they can do other things and save their money. He noted that to be member of a CIBAN group the member must be involved in an income generating activities that enables them to save money and guarantee for loan.
At the closed of the workshop, participants developed action plans on how they will implement this new concept in their communities
