SMART INVESTMENT:THE BAGASOLA CFS EXPERIENCE

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Baga Sola lies in the north- west corner of Chad on the Lake Chad Basin. The Region is WV Chad’s part of the Lake Chad Basin Response which was launched in October 2016. Though significantly under funding, the program has nonetheless found some very smart ways of investing its limited resources. Using Gift Catalogue funding from WV United States, the program has established a Child Friendly Space (CFS) in the village of Selia.

The 115 x 85 meter space is truly transformative. Some 400 displaced children from fishing villages attacked by Boko Haram, have found an ‘Oasis of peace’. To ensure community participation and sustainability World Vision trained 15 community animators (mostly parents of the children) to provide proper care and supervision for the children. At the CFS, children learn to read, sing, count and draw. They are also taught basic hygiene and sanitation, particularly hand-washing and keeping their environment clean. Building relationships is another key component of the child friendly space. Children are sensitized on social cohesion and cross cultural sensitivities. 

So far 2 CFS has been opened to children aged 5-12 years, and 250 children have been registered. The number is expected to grow to 400 once all the facilities are in place. The program also works with parents and has helped set up child protection and water management committees to ensure that children rights and health are protected at all times.

With NEPRF funds, the Response has also built 3 boreholes in Selia and is planning to address food security by investing in Livelihoods activities like seeds distribution and savings groups. As the Regional Leader Esther Lehmann-Sow once said, WV now has an opportunity to make a great impact with less. The Baga Sola CFS is a typical example of this philosophy.