Kono Development
Kono Development is a development project sponsored by the Danida, Danish Development Cooperation (equivalent to USAID). We run this project parallel to our business concept.
Whilst Kono Business works with tailors who have already completed training through the AVA organization (Advocate for Vulnerable Aid), Kono Development wishes to work directly with AVA itself and its trainees.
Kono Development runs small scale development projects sponsored by the Danida, Danish Development Cooperation (equivalent to USAID). We run these projects parallel to our business concept.
Currently Kono Development works with a so called partnership activity, which is a 6 month project, with the purpose to strengthen AVAs strategic position in advocating for womens rights. This involves strengthening AVAs organisational capacity, their knowledge of the legal framework for gender rights in Sierra Leone, and the partnership with the Kono teams in Denmark.
In 2011 ‘the Kono Development Project I’ finished. The project consisted of the following components
Partnership
Kono Development is a partnership between the association Retro in Denmark and the local NGO AVA in Sierra Leone. Our mission is to strengthen (support might be a better word here, since we use stronger later in the sentence) AVA in its endeavour to become a stronger and more sustainable organization. On a practical level, this means helping them to offer a quality education .
An Education for Women
AVA provides marginalized women aged 18 – 30 with an opportunity to train, for example, as tailors or hairdressers. Most women in Sierra Leone have never been to school because of the civil war and, for many, AVA is their only chance to learn a trade.
High Unemployment Rates
The biggest current challenge for AVA is that many trainees cannot find work. The province of Kono is one of the poorest in Sierra Leone and the job market is very limited. Furthermore, education is not developed in innovative ways that adapt to the local work market. Our hope is that our training of the AVA volunteers will change the course of events for the better.
Financing the project
The project is financed through the project pool at the Projektrådgivningen, who distribute Danida grants to smaller organizations. In May 2009, we received 60.000 kr. and in February 2010 we were granted 409.000 kr.
Meet the volunteers in Kono Development.
2 Responses to Kono Development
What a fantastic initiative! I am originally from the Kono province with strong family routes etc I am particularly drawn to the work you do as I also work in the diamond business and also feel very passionate about Kono people’s plight and what they have been thru so to see a project trying to bring hope to the lives of the women there is really great! Thank you…if there is any way I can help then would be very happy to talk with someone from the project team. I currently reside in the UK and also run my own jewellery business.
Thanks for your comment. We are currently working on a film project where the tailors are making their own documentaries about their lives. Let us know if you can help us promoting the films in UK. /Anni