Our organisation has three categories of activities that the women in different areas are involved in.
Groundnut Oil Group: We have a group of about 50 women who produce groundnut oil within their homesteads. One of them provided the production space. Groundnut oil is very popular in Nigeria and is one of the best selling products. This group received machinery from VSO. Before VSO intervened they produced the oil manually - which is very tedious and the production was also very low. Many of the women are quite elderly but they are very hardworking. Most of them have sent their children to school with the income generated from this business.
Leather Women Group: The women in this group produce leather goods - cushions, floor rags, bags, sandals. Most of them live in purdahs and their male children or husbands do the marketing outside the homes. VSO provided funds for the purchase of raw materials and equipment needed to cut and shape the leather. One of the women has managed to save enough money to send her son to Canada to study Aviation.
Rice Milling Women: This is a group of women milling rice which is used to make rice cakes. This is a
popular delicacy in Nigeria.
Above - some of the groundnut ladies.
Above: VSO organiser Phyllis M. with one of the groundnut ladies.
Photograph: Kevin O'Rourke
Above: Leather workers with their handiwork.
