The first strategic plan of CONSS to look forward over several years was discussed, worked on and agreed in the second half of 2006.
Vision:
A strong, vibrant and coordinated NGO sector working in partnership to empower people and communities in Sokoto State and to sustainably improve their quality of life and living standards.
Download and read this document from our Info and Documents Page!
Below: CONSS members working on the Strategic Plan:
Just two weeks after the first award (see below), Abdul Abubakar has received another national honour - the Maiden Youth Award for outstanding performance as the zonal coordinator of the National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NYNETHA). The presentation was made at UN House Abuja on 1st December 2006 during the World AIDS Day celebration 2006. It was sponsored by UNDP and UN AIDS office in Nigeria.
Abdulganiyu A Abubakar will be honoured in Lagos on 16th November 2006 with the Nigerian Youth Leadership Award. He has been a Red Cross worker since joining in 1986 at the age of nine. He founded the Save The Child Initiative in 2001. Since then, the initiative has benefited approximately 56,800 children and young people.
There is more information about Abubakar A Abdulganiyu on the STCI page.
Three members of the Save The Child Initiative organization completed their second round of the 5 days self sponsored leadership for health programme conducted by LEAP Africa at the British Council, Kano. Having met all the requirements for graduation, Abdulganiyu A Abubakar, Rabiu Bello Gandi and Emmanuel Orimoloye will be attending the graduation ceremony and presentation of certificates to graduates on 16th November 2006 in Lagos.
VSO have appointed a new worker to support CONSS in Sokoto. She replaces Phyllis, who is now working in Nairobi. The new VSO official, Esme, is from the Netherlands and will take up her post in June 2006. We wish her every success and hope to bring you a report about her soon.
Below: welcoming Esme Berkhout and a colleague:
In December 2005 Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) held an award giving ceremony in an effort to recognize Nigerians who have contributed a lot to the service of humanity in Nigeria.
This ceremony coincided with International Volunteers Day - a day dedicated to all volunteers in the world. VSO works with many partners in Nigeria and thus it was a nice surprise for Mallam Usman Modibbo to be chosen out of them as one of the best and most dedicated Nigerians in his effort to make the life of Almajiris better. Mallam Usman Modibbo was given the award in Lagos in a ceremony attended by VSO Director Ronke Azeez, VSO Program Managers, International donors and government officials. Although this award was presented to Mallam Usman Modibbo it was also an award that made Sokoto State proud. In recognition of his efforts and dedication, the Kebbi State Governor, offered Mallam Modibbo the opportunity to work as the Vice Principal of the Islamic Institute in Kebbi State.
The award was also a huge incentive to the members of the Coalition of NGOs in Sokoto State (of which ALEF is a member) to continue in their work to help the poor and needy people in Sokoto State.
After the launch of the CRC in May 2005, new facilities have been added to the centre to make it more user friendly. Under the support of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) the centre received more computers, printers, computer tables, chairs and scanner. The centre is fully air conditioned too thanks to the UNDP support.
The centre has ten trained HIV & AIDS counsellors who are at hand to help anyone who needs counselling on HIV & AIDS related issues. This service is offered free of charge.
Sports facilities have been installed in the centre - you can now play table tennis and snooker. A small fee is charged for the use of these facilities. The funds generated are used to maintain the facilities in the centre.
Internet and DSTV facilities on the way. Just look for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The funds for these facilities have already been released to the organization and groundwork is under way to ensure that the facilities are installed as soon as possible. The funds have been received from DCI.
3Ps have received funding for its school programs from US and Netherlands Embassies. More details as the project takes off ...
The CONSS web site, which you are looking at now, has been put together and tested over the last few months. Now it has been was published at this address www.conss.net.
From now on, we will be developing the site with news and other new things. Check back often to see how our web site grows!
DCI (Ireland Aid) is coming to Sokoto to evaluate the impact of the Community Resource Center. The center has received a lot of funding from the DCI and this visit will also be part of the monitoring and evaluation of the project by the donor.
In August a six-member team from Cameroon came to visit the network and its members. The purpose of the visit was to learn from the NGOs - especially those that had received funding from European Union. The Cameroon group was hoping to receive funding from the EU and the Sokoto based NGOs offered a good learning set up. Apart from the learning, the exchange visit also opened opportunities for the organizations to learn from each other and to network.
The Rural Women & Youth Development Center received more than 2 million Naira for their project in Danchadi Local Government in Sokoto State. The project targets women living in purdah and young unemployed men. The project aims at empowering the two groups economically. The women are now doing knitting, sewing, soap and pomade making. The young men are doing more on sewing and embroidery work. The two centers are fully equipped with the necessary machines and equipment. The first set of more than 30 women to benefit from this project is going to graduate soon.
A community resource center funded by VSO and Ireland Aid was opened on 17th May 2005 by Hajia Zainab Sani, Director of Administration, representing the Commissioner of Women Affairs. Read more about the purpose of the center and see pictures of the Launch Day on the CRC page.