A total of 1,000 women from over 60 women's groups in Busia County have enrolled in a two-year empowerment programme aimed at strengthening their entrepreneurial skills, leadership capacity, and economic independence. The Muvirogo Women Training Programme, implemented under Ushindi Empowerment, will provide participants with business skills, advocacy knowledge, and an understanding of economic justice. This initiative seeks to enable women to expand their enterprises, influence decision-making, and improve their livelihoods.
According to Ushindi Empowerment Director Ella Wafula, Busia County has numerous business opportunities due to its strategic location along the Kenya-Uganda border. However, women need adequate training and collective action to benefit from these opportunities. The training will help women aggregate economically and trade effectively, ultimately contributing to the collective growth of women in the county.
Leadership development is a key component of the programme, with a focus on equipping women with the skills and confidence to participate effectively in leadership at individual, group, and community levels. The programme will invest time in nurturing leadership at various levels, creating a big success in ensuring women have a voice in community leadership.
The programme aims to build a strong network of women capable of advocating for their interests, contributing to county and national development, and establishing linkages across the region. Ushindi Empowerment Lead Trainer Eliud Wasike stated that the initiative seeks to address gaps in business skills that have prevented many women from identifying and exploiting available economic opportunities.
The training will also strengthen women's advocacy skills, enabling them to articulate challenges affecting their businesses and communities and engage more effectively with decision-makers. Economic justice is another critical area, particularly in raising awareness about women's rights to own property and participate fully in economic development.
Women who have undergone the training have reported positive impacts, including an appreciation of the benefits of working together and supporting one another economically. They have also noted that the knowledge acquired will help them meet their family responsibilities, including educating their children and providing for their households, while strengthening their economic independence.
The programme's impact is expected to benefit entire households by improving their ability to provide for their children, strengthen food security, and contribute to environmental conservation. Empowering women financially and equipping them with business skills will have a positive ripple effect on the community, enabling them to contribute to the economy and own properties.
Key points
- The programme aims to equip 1,000 women with business skills, advocacy knowledge, and economic justice awareness.
- The initiative seeks to address gaps in business skills and promote women's economic independence.
- The programme's impact is expected to benefit entire households and contribute to county and national development.
