By Ibrahim Sangba
FREETOWN, Mar. 10 (232news.com) – The Women and Girls Initiative Sierra Leone (WoGI-SL) gave microcredit loans to 10 female teachers at the Baptist Primary School in the Gloucester community. The five hundred thousand Leones (Le 500,000) was given as a micro-credit loan to each with the interest rate of one hundred thousand Leones (Le 100,000) in two months’ period.
WoGI-SL is a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) whose office address is 50 Joe Town, Gloucester, Freetown. The organization focuses on the promotion, development and empowerment of women and girls in Sierra Leone. Last year, it gave 30 women in stone mining loans and over 80 girls received scholarships worth of lunch, uniform and learning materials both at both Leicester and Gloucester communities.
In her statement, the executive director of WoGI-SL madam Christiana Sangba recalled that early last year the organization launched its micro-credit loan scheme for the deprived and vulnerable women in society, subsequently, 30 women that were directly involved in stone mining around Gloucester and Leicester communities were opportune to receive the first set of microcredit loan. “After a series of engagements with my team, we concluded that women in the classroom need to befit from the loan scheme,” said madam Sagba. On that note, the organization has started its micro-credit scheme with 10 women in the Baptist Primary School Gloucester community. Wherein, each of the women received the sum of five hundred thousand Leone (Le 500,000). She disclosed the source of the finance which came through the little contribution made by her membership. “However, some of the clients for our micro-credit scheme are in the habit of neglecting their commitment but with time, I hope they will come to terms with the condition”, she concluded.
In addition, the secretary-general of WoGI-SL, Mr. Mustapha Massaquio admonished the beneficiaries to utilize the money into a business that will in turn bring additional interest other than the capital. He also emphasized that they should ensure to pay the money and on the stipulated time so that other sets of women will benefit likewise. “If you the first batch of teachers proof well, the organization will go all out to increase your quota and bring more female teachers on board,” Mr. Massaquio cautioned.
Furthermore, the chairlady of the women’s organization and recipient of the loan Mrs. Safiatu Kargbo appreciated the executive director of WoGI-SL and her team. Mrs. Kargbo quickly committed her women organization that they are female teachers with additional skills apart from in the classroom, she said, “some of us are traders, cater, costumer etc. Therefore, worry not about the money”, “we will return it within the time frame,” she assured management.
Another beneficiary who doubles as the secretary for the female teachers’ organization, Mrs. Zainab Kanu said that WoGI-SL is the first community-based organization that thought of the condition of women in the classroom. Even though the class is not lucrative but teachers are people with integrity. “We are not going to spoil this gesture which will benefit us for a long period”, Mrs. Kanu said.
