The Lutheran Women's Organization (LWA) is the parent organization of all the ELCSL women in Sierra Leone. Administratively the organization is structured as seen below.
President
National Executive
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Regional Women’s Groups
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District Women’s Groups
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Committees
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Congregational Members
President
National Executive
|
Regional Women’s Groups
|
District Women’s Groups
|
Committees
|
Congregational Members
The officers of the LWA are elected for a term of two (2) years and could only serve for a maximum of two (2) terms. Apart from the Women's Desk Coordinator, who according to the church constitution is appointed by the Bishop, all the officers of the National Executive of the association are elected at the Women's National Convention held every two years.
ACTIVITIES OF THE LWA
Micro Credit
The micro credit program is a revolving loan scheme that is been operated by the association through the Women's Desk for all the 23 ELCSL congregations. This program is to help empower women and improve their social and economic well-being. The beneficiaries are first trained in micro-finance and basic entrepreneurial skills before loans are given out to them.
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The total loan amount being invested so far is Le 5,000,000 (five million leones) which is approximately $1,100; and each congregation is given at most Le 500,000 (five hundred thousand leones), approximately $110 for ten months (three months grace period and 7 months loan repayment period).
The micro-credit loan scheme started in March 2010. Since the loan fund is not enough to be distributed to all the 23 congregations at the same time, the national executive of the association set up some criteria to be met before a congregation qualifies. The first ten congregations that qualify get the first phase of the loan . The second phase continues as collections are made from the first phase. An interest rate of 15% was added to the loans already disbursed. The micro credit scheme is in progress. |
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Moringa Cultivation Project
The Moringa plant, also known as "Miracle Tree," serves as food, medicine and is also a cash crop. The Lutheran Women's Association has undertaken the cultivation of Moringa plants as an economic venture to generate income for the association. The project is being implemented at Yegele Village, in the southern province. Through the help of the members of St. Anthony Lutheran Church, Yegele, the women have nursed and transplanted 50 Moringa trees in October 2011. The association hopes to cultivate up to 100 Moringa trees. The project is ongoing.
Small Scale Agricultural Projects
In addition to activities undertaken by the Association, the Women's wings in the various congregations are also undertaking activities like Cassava plant cultivation, groundnuts (peanuts), sweet potatoes and vegetable gardening. The proceeds from these activities are sold, and the income is used to meet their individual financial commitments and their commitments to the association.
The Lutheran Women's Empowerment Training and Production Center
The Lutheran Women's Empowerment Training and Production Center was set up by the women's organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone (ELCSL). This center is situated at No. 4A Consider Lane, Calabatown, Freetown.
The vision of the group, which was born in the aftermath of the ten years civil war in Sierra Leone, is to help marginalized and underprivileged women and girls who have been sexually violated, school dropouts, and other deprived young girls in the community and the church. The main focus of the women is to provide basic training that will make them self employed, self reliant and thereby become useful in their communities.
The center is engaged in activities such as skill training in Tailoring, Gara Tie-dye and Batik work, Hair dressing and Catering. There is also production of items like hand and shoulder bags, purses, dresses, etc. all made from gara and batik fabric materials.
Other courses taught at the center include Adult Literacy, Basic Entrepreneurship, and Basic Health Care.
The center has about eight trainers all of whom are trained and qualified in their different fields. The center now admits male students to all the course areas that are offered at the center.
The vision of the group, which was born in the aftermath of the ten years civil war in Sierra Leone, is to help marginalized and underprivileged women and girls who have been sexually violated, school dropouts, and other deprived young girls in the community and the church. The main focus of the women is to provide basic training that will make them self employed, self reliant and thereby become useful in their communities.
The center is engaged in activities such as skill training in Tailoring, Gara Tie-dye and Batik work, Hair dressing and Catering. There is also production of items like hand and shoulder bags, purses, dresses, etc. all made from gara and batik fabric materials.
Other courses taught at the center include Adult Literacy, Basic Entrepreneurship, and Basic Health Care.
The center has about eight trainers all of whom are trained and qualified in their different fields. The center now admits male students to all the course areas that are offered at the center.
Photo Gallery of the women's center at work.
Exhibition and Business Center at No. 2 River Beach
The idea of opening an exhibition and sales center for items produced at the women's center was born by the association's national executive in one of their meetings in February 2010. This venture is also another means of generating income for the association. The construction of the booth is in progress, and upon completion the association hopes to be able to generate income from selling items from the Women's center to visiting tourists at the beach.
