Fostering Opportunities in Rural Southern Areas- FORSA Quarterly Report # 2

The project's overall goal is to contribute to poverty reduction by addressing health and wealth improvements, as well as enhancing social protection. The specific objectives of the project are to provide immediate employment opportunities for 1,400 youth in rural Upper Egypt and to build the capacity of women in rural Upper Egypt, assisting them technically and financially to start their own businesses. During the second quarter of 2014, project activities continued to gain momentum, with the project team implementing the quality improvement plan set forth during the previous quarter. Funds were transferred to the Umbrella Non-Governmental Organizations (UNGOs) throughout this quarter, totaling 5,406,215.05 Egyptian Pounds. The FORSA project team collaborated with the finance team to develop an effective management tool to monitor the UNGOs' activities. The project's implementation focused on several key areas, including the transfer of funds to UNGOs, conducting household visits by community outreach workers, and conducting the Egyptian Women Speak Out (EWSO) workshops for target beneficiary women in Assiut and Souhag governorates. The project also provided refresher trainings on interpersonal communication and counseling skills, as well as managerial skills, and conducted health awareness seminars and exchange visits. The project's outreach workers conducted household visits, reaching a total of 1,500 households in the two governorates. The EWSO workshops, which aimed to empower women and promote their participation in decision-making, were conducted in 15 communities, with a total of 1,200 women participating. The project also provided micro-grants to beneficiaries, totaling 1,200,000 Egyptian Pounds. The project's success stories highlight the impact of the project on the lives of the beneficiaries. Asmaa, a beneficiary from Assiut, regained control over her life after participating in the EWSO workshops and receiving a micro-grant. Faten, a 37-year-old woman from Souhag, started her own business after participating in the project's training programs. Ahlam, a mother from Assiut, saved her daughter's life after receiving training on first aid and emergency response. The project's monitoring and evaluation activities revealed a significant increase in the number of women participating in the EWSO workshops and a decrease in the number of households without access to health services. The project's achievements during the second quarter of 2014 were significant, with a total of 1,200 women participating in the EWSO workshops and 1,500 households reached through household visits. The project's success stories demonstrate the impact of the project on the lives of the beneficiaries and highlight the need for continued support to sustain the project's activities.