ELIZABETH OSIESI’S SUCCESS STORY: HELPING ORPHANS TO SUCCEED IN LIFE

09 Feb ELIZABETH OSIESI’S SUCCESS STORY: HELPING ORPHANS TO SUCCEED IN LIFE

MEET OUR AFFILIATE ELIZABETH OSIESI WHO JOINED RULIN AS AN ORPHANED CAREGIVER.

Elizabeth who lost both parents at the age of 15 was left to care for herself and the younger brother who was 10 years old. Both of them had to face serious challenges in the village of Owa-Alizomor where they reside. The prospects of ever succeeding in life were further attenuated by the fact that deepening poverty in the community was already overburdening the extended families structures of the traditional support system.

Elizabeth and her younger brother were only provided shelter by members of her extended family but had to work in the farm to meet their daily needs and support their education. The intervention of Rural Linkage Network (RULIN) enabled Elizabeth and the younger brother to remain in school and receive nutritional and clothing support. At the completion of her JSS3 educational career she was already above 18years old, Elizabeth opted to learn how to make dresses. RULIN supported her sewing skill acquisition training. With the completion of the training in dress making, RULIN purchased one sewing machine for Elizabeth to commence her dress making business in March 2010.

Elizabeth Osiesi receives a sewing machine from Prof Patrick Okoh, MG of Rural Linkage Network in MARCH 2010

With the commencement of the Community Based Support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CUBS) Elizabeth was enrolled as an adolescent caregiver and thus benefited from several trainings for caregivers provide by CUBS including those of income generating activities (IGA). Under the IGA she received trainings on entrepreneurial skills and competences. Elizabeth is now a trainer on dress making in the community and she has been able to generate enough money to invest in the expansion of her enterprise by purchasing a second sewing machine.

Elizabeth receives a hug from Prof Rosemary Okoh as she is presented with a power generator

Her business got a boost when CUBS provided her a generator to support her business. Today, Elizabeth is running a fast growing sowing business in the village and she is able to support her younger one in school and meet their daily needs. She is now training other young girls in the village on how to make dresses.