A group of 75 households, graduating today from small business
training, are looking forward to their new lives as business
owners.

The 75 families, living in Hatcliffe Extension in Harare North,
completed the Spanish Government sponsored livelihood training
provided by IOM and the Zimbabwe Women's Bureau.

After receiving their diplomas, the graduates, who specialized
in leatherwork, tinsmithing, hair dressing, bricklaying, baking,
dress making and small business training, will join the 45
households who have already launched their new businesses.

Recent graduates of the IOM programme will not only engage in
income generating activities but will finally be able to meet the
basic nutritional and educational needs of their families.

"This project has come at the right time for us and our lives
will never be the same," said one of the graduates. "This will help
us feed our families and send our children to school."

So far, the livelihood assistance project has benefitted 225
vulnerable households (1,225 individuals), affected by Operation
Restore Order, which began in 2005 and has relocated thousands of
families throughout the country.

"Viable income-generating activities, small business management
training and networking, as well as savings and lending, are all
part of the IOM assistance package to these vulnerable
households.  The aim is to increase income and food security,"
explains Marcelo Pisani, IOM Chief of Mission in Zimbabwe.

Temporary facilities for the graduates to set up their
businesses are being provided in cooperation with the local
council.  The premises are centrally located allowing the new
businesses easy access to potential customers.  The local
council is also allocating open spaces for the beneficiaries to
develop and permanently operate from.

IOM, in partnership with CARE International, also launched the
Internal Savings and Lending Programme in Hatcliffe Extension in
September 2008.  The 354 participating households are
organized into self selected groups, and are trained on saving
money and lending money to each other in groups. 

"With the generous support of donors, such as the Spanish
Government, we can better serve vulnerable communities by
empowering them with sustainable livelihoods initiatives, linking
them with savings and lending programmes, and the private sector,"
adds Pisani.

For more  information please contact:

Erin Foster

IOM Zimbabwe

Tel: 011885266 or 0912572315

E-mail: "mailto:efoster@iom.int">efoster@iom.int