LEADERSHIP
ENGAGEMENT
& DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM
Civic Engagement for Regional Development
The Leadership, Engagement, and Development (Lead) program was created with input and feedback from our partner communities as a continuation of the Community Action program. Lead further breaks down historical and cultural barriers to development within communities by giving them the tools to access funding directly, including training in project design, management, and proposal writing. Volunteer-leaders use their training to work collaboratively with the community to identify a development project and write a proposal in a competitive bid for funding, awarded by OneVillage Partners. Chosen proposals are funded, and community members implement projects in collaboration with experts and local institutions. Lead creates civic engagement platforms for regional collaboration between communities and local government and results in sustainable, effective development.
Lead Program Pilot Results
As the first communities to participate in Lead, Grima and Mamboma completed their projects in early 2021. Their projects are increasing access to quality healthcare and skills training for themselves and their surrounding communities.
Advocating for Women’s Health
For their Lead project, the community of Grima chose to improve access to quality healthcare for their community and surrounding communities by rehabilitating their local health clinic. Today, the clinic now has access to clean water and solar electricity. Eighty women from the nearby communities were trained in pre- and post-natal care, so that expecting mothers would receive improved services during and after delivery. Already, the clinic is improving care for nearly 7,500 individuals in and around Grima.
Training Opportunities for Women and Youth
Volunteer-leaders in Mamboma chose to refurbish a previously constructed skills training center, so that women and youth in surrounding area could have increased access to trainings for income-earning skills. The newly renovated building has access to clean water and solar electricity. These updated features are allowing trainings on soap making, tailoring, and weaving to be offered for nearly 10,400 women and youth in and around Mamboma.
Learn how the Lead program is breaking down barriers to poverty reduction in rural communities.