600 business owners to benefit from FCA livelihood project in Awerial County

Newly trained tailors and hairdressers pose for a picture with their startup kits from the Finn Church Aid last year. (File photo)

At least 600 small business owners in Mingkaman Town in Lakes State’s Awerial County are set to benefit from the newly launched six-month livelihood project implemented by the Finn Church Aid (FCA) which will cover microbusinesses, agribusiness, and fisheries.

Maketh Kuot Deng, the FCA livelihood project officer in the area, on Monday during the launch of the project in Mingkaman, said the project will be implemented based on the recommendations from the community leaders, including women, youth, and chiefs during registration.

“I am urging the community and stakeholders available here today to please make sure that they properly utilize whatever support they will get from this project,” he advised. “Whatever we give you should not be sold but used to start your businesses so that when the project ends, you remain with your assets.”

Kuot announced during the project launch meeting which was attended by community representatives including chiefs, youth, and women leaders that registration for the new beneficiaries will begin next week.

“At least 300 beneficiaries will be dealers in fisheries, 100 in agribusiness, and 200 in small businesses,” he stated. “Some individuals will benefit from livelihood inputs, agricultural inputs, and others will get cash grants.”

Deborah Alek, a Mingkaman resident who attended the launch of the project, told Radio Tamazuj that it will help them become self-reliant.

“I appreciate the fact that this project will teach the selected business people how to focus on business for self-reliance and stop depending on relief aid,” she stated.

Another resident, Mayola Kuol, said he hopes the project will be implemented as it was designed because some organizations raise the hopes of the people and later abandon projects midway.

“My only doubt is because some agencies come and tell us their new projects, raising the hopes of the vulnerable groups, but they later do not implement what they started. Let me hope this project will work out as it has started,” he said. “Due to the difficult economic situation, I suggest that whatever support the agency brings inform as money or grants, should be a reasonable amount for start-ups.”