Cash transfer brings relief to flooding-prone communities in Kaduna State
An anticipatory action pilot intervention delivers cash grants to 5,000 households in six flood-prone communities affected by flooding in the last 10 years in Kaduna State, giving hope to vulnerable families and groups
KADUNA, 26 August 2022 - Faith Gabriel, 20, had a dream of becoming a doctor but that dream was aborted when she dropped out of school in the final year of her secondary school education because she had no money to pay her school fees.
"After my father died in 2012, my mother tried to ensure I continued my education, despite her low income. In 2017, my mother could not raise money for my fees so, I dropped out of school,” said Faith.
Life got tougher for Faith six months ago when her baby came.
“As a single mother, I had no money for my upkeep, nor to look after my baby,” revealed Faith. “I only looked up to God every day for our survival.”
Faith was home one day thinking about life when a man in a Red Cross vest walked into her house and asked her several questions.
“I eventually received my own share of the support – N35,000! This is a big opportunity for me. With this money I received today, I can assure you that my life will be transformed for the better," said Faith.
“At first, I was wondering why the questions, but he explained that he was interviewing people like me in consideration for possible support through the Shock Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) project, and that he had come to get my data because I am a nursing mother, so I gave him attention,” said Faith.
"Hope came alive for me one day when I got a call to come to the cash payment location in my community. I didn't believe it initially, until the caller told me to come along with the slip that was given to me on the day my data was captured.
“I immediately left home. When I got there and saw people being paid, I started drawing out plans on what to do to multiply the money.
"I learned how to knit sweatshirts sometime ago, but I couldn't afford the materials nor a knitting machine. I’ve made up my mind to buy a sewing machine with this money because I know I’ll make profit in that business,” said Faith who has paid for the knitting machine already because she doesn’t want to risk spending the money on other things.
“I believe I can still achieve my dream of becoming a medical doctor; that dream can never die! With this money I’ve received, and with the help of God, I tell you, I will use it to reorganize my life and achieve my dream," she said.
Faith, excited, thanked the Red Cross, UNICEF and partners who made it possible for her to be reached, promising she’d not disappoint them.
Anthony Micah also received the cash support. Micah lost his legs in a ghastly motor accident years ago.
Since 2015, Micah has been experiencing floods in his area but has continued to live there because he has no resources to relocate.
"In 2015, I had a terrible experience when the floods came. I was alone in my house when water started gushing into my room. I shouted and neighbours came and rescued me, but I lost everything ,” narrated Micah.
“With no money, life has been difficult. I plait women’s hair to eke out a living, but it’s been difficult to make savings because I have to buy drugs regularly.”
Going into business is not in his plans, but Micah will utilize the cash grant judiciously to take good care of his health and continue with hair plaiting for a living.
"This money came at the right time! With it, I will be able to buy food stuffs and drugs to take good care of myself. I will save the remaining one and continue to augment it with money I make from hair plaiting,” said Micah, in obvious relief.
The Shock Responsive Social Protection is a pilot intervention. It is funded by the European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), and supported by UNICEF, the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and the Nigerian Red Cross.
A total of 5,000 households which have been affected by flooding in the last 10 years in six flood-prone communities in Kaduna State and are at risk to face flooding during this year, received cash grants of 35,000 Naira each.
Beneficiaries include pregnant and breastfeeding women; households headed by women or children; children aged 0-5; including people with disabilities, the elderly; and those from poor households or low income.
