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The journey started in 2013 when a call for Expression of Interest was responded to by LUCAF. The Proposal was concluded after Organisational Capacity Assessments had been carried out and Lift Up Care Foundation was fortunate to be among the successful CSOs in Kogi State. With the various Capacity Building Workshops organised for CSOs staff, LUCAF staff fully participated in and were prepared for good comprehension and implementation of the SMILE Project Goal, Vision and Mission as they are in tandem with the LUCAF’s. Click to download report
Action swung on in March 2014 following the signing of a Fixed Obligation Grant (FOG) Contract.The Contract entrusted 4 Communities, Ikanekpo, Ankpa, Emere and Enabo all in Ankpa LGA for Enrolment of 3,500 Vulnerable Children from 875 Households for 6+1 services. LUCAF set about it by embarking on advocacy and sensitisation mission to various stakeholders in the four (4) communities and also at the local government level. It therefore created avenue for selecting Volunteers that underwent training and had 22 among the numbers recruited as Community Based Volunteers to drive the implementation of the project in their various communities. Another 22 volunteers were added towards FY15 following the CRS desire to double the target, VC and Households; and then additional 2 Communities (Amoke and Abache).
In the same FY15, CRS graciously entrusted Lokoja LGA for LUCAF’s coverage as inherited from a sister CSO. We implemented across the following communities in Lokoja LGA namely; Madabo, Angwan –Kura, Adankolo, Karaworo, Cantonment, Kabawa, Angwan –Pawa, Rimi and Sarki – Noma communities. The Project had 16 staff and that include the Executive Director. The other 15 are: Project Manager, Finance Officer, 2 each of VC Officer, Nutrition Officer, HES Officer, Care & Support Officer, M&E Officer and 3 Data Clerks aside 3 Adhoc Data Entry staff that at various points of explosive data collections were engaged for entries into National OVC Management Information System (NOMIS).
The highlight of LUCAF accomplishment on the SMILE Program across the project
implementation communities is as follows:
Enrolments:
Ankpa LGA
Services:
Households Economic Strengthening (HES)
Agric Input:
Provision of Pro-vitaminA Cassava Stem and Orange Fleshy Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) Vines for 850 Caregivers in the 6 Project Communities of Ankpa LGA in 2015, and 1,350 Caregivers in 2016, in 2017 1,205 Caregivers got High Quality Protein Maize (HQPM), Bean, Orange, Oil palm, and coconut seedlings, while Lokoja LGA Caregivers were not interested in Agric input, only 198 Caregivers showed interest and got Pro-vitamin A Cassava Stem and OFSP Vines, 158 Caregivers got High Quality Protein Maize (HQPM)
Cash Transfer:
Cash Transfer of N20,000.00 each was provided for 384 Caregivers in the 6 Project Communities of Ankpa LGA and in the 9 Communities of Lokoja LGA 104 Caregivers benefitted in 2016 and in 2018 another 139 set of Cash Transfer beneficiaries got N20,000.00 each in Ankpa LGA and 55 Caregivers in Lokoja LGA. Towards the end of the program, final cash transfer was disbursed for a total of 466 Caregivers in Ankpa LGA, while a total of 203 caregivers received cash transfer of N20,000 each. The cash transfer activity is one of the sustainability plans of the project across implementing communities.
SILC:
LUCAF SMILE formed a total of 26 Saving and Internal Lending Commission (SILC) groups across Ankpa LGA in 6 communities and 12 in Lokoja LGA. This has helped members access to loan from the group purse with which they have embarked on small businesses. This has taken root.
Vocational Skill Training:
SMILE in Ankpa LGA enrolled 47 beneficiaries into various vocational skill training in 2017 but 33 in 2018 successfully completed their training and were provided startup kits while, Lokoja LGA enrolled 49 beneficiaries and the 36 that completed their training successfully also were given start up kits appropriately.
Health
Trained 60 Adolescents Girls from Emere community on a Module with 14 Sessions covering Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues and HIV/AIDs Prevention with the aim of improving their lives and building their capacity to face life challenges.
The project has consistently provided escort services to 28 and 26 PLHIV in Ankpa and Lokoja LGAs respectively aftermath of HCT conducted for all enrolled beneficiaries.
Psychosocial
Provided Refreshment for over 400 Kids and 540 Youths in Ankpa LGA and 144 Kids and 250 Youths in Lokoja LGA at each of their monthly Club Meetings/ Activities as motivation for attendance to improve on their social wellbeing. Special days for children were also organised for the Vulnerable Children (VC) with Refreshment and Gifts to over 100 VC in each of the Project LGAs.
800 and 700 caregivers in Ankpa and Lokoja LGAs respectively meet on monthly basis at forums (Caregiver Forum) where they discuss family centred issues for the wellbeing of the household.
Nutrition
Community - Infant and Young Child Feeding (C-IYCF) activities in Ankpa and Lokoja LGAs are solidly in place as forum of encouragement and support for the caregivers and other child bearing women in the communities’ especially on exclusive breastfeeding and during their monthly meetings refreshment are provided for 150 and 80 participants at each meeting in Ankpa and Lokoja LGAs respectively. Food demonstration using locally available food items were conducted to enable caregivers utilise what they have to achieve maximum nutrient value. Tom brown recipes were prepared to manage moderately malnourish cases identified across communities of Ankpa and Lokoja LGA during the life span of the project.
Protection
In each Project Community of the LGAs of Intervention, gender norms sessions were delivered among the caregivers and household heads (Men) as step towards ending discrimination against the girl child and also violence against women. All beneficiary VC without birth certificate have been provided with their appropriately.
Education
Education performance assessments of VC in schools were carried out. Challenges were identified. As a step forward to addressing some of the identified challenges, 75 Dual Desks were provided for LGA Primary School, Amoke and LGA Primary School, Enabo in Ankpa LGA each while, 60 Dual Desks were provided for LGA Primary School, Kabawa in Lokoja LGA
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) provided the funds to the tune of over a hundred million naira to accomplish all of the above and more. The program officially kicks started March, 2014 and ended August, 2018.