Female undergrad empowers women and girls with disabilities in C’River community

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Blessing Iripia Alims has organised a skill-inculcating project for physically challenged persons resident in Bekwarra LGA of Cross River NEGROIDHAVEN has confirmed.

The female undergraduate who is studying Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) embarked on a skill acquisition project for physically challenged women.

Blessing Alims in the midst of the PWD in August

The project christened ‘Walking in her Shoes’ in its first edition (August 2022) embodied : basics of shoe making, making of reusable sanitary pads, gele tieing, and bead making, soap detergent & bleach making etc. It also featured medical checkup/consultation, presentation of mini start up packs to outstanding participants, focus group discussion on developing participants self esteem.

Speaking with NEGROIDHAVEN exclusively after the incident, Alims explained that Walking in her Shoes, ‘happened because women with disabilities, face three-fold challenge and discrimination: first as women, second as women with disabilities and third as women with low financial status. Therefore the program was to enhance their self and empower them with home-based skills, that they can equally be used to bring financial growth’.

Continuing, the social development worker disclosed that ‘The project was geared at empowering young ladies with skills and women with life long skills that will yield economic and financial freedom.

‘There was free medical check up which included free consultation; blood pressure and glucose monitoring, Tuberculosis test, dispensing of essential drugs available and HIV/AIDs testing.Participants who were tested reactive got referrals and appropriate medical consultation. The medical check up was facilitated by Owoche Clinic and Maternity Home, Itakpa Bekwarra LGA. GPI provide me with materials for the making of reusable sanitary pads.’

The programme was well attended by community chiefs, wife of the chairman of Bekwarra LGA, team members/volunteers.