Foundation for Self Reliance

Grants for Self-Reliance

Launched in August 2004, our Grants for Self-Reliance (GSR) program is a microgrant and personal independence coaching project. We work one-on-one with impoverished widows and their children who have been repatriated to Afghanistan. It is one of our most challenging, yet successful and rewarding programs. Shala Arsala, an FSR Advisory Board member, helped launch this project with her shared ideas and challenges of work she has been doing in Pakistan and Afghanistan throughout the pre-and post-Taliban years. Ms. Arsala was also instrumental in helping us establish our initial contacts in Kabul. We provide short-term grants to help pay for basic education, vocational training, childcare, transportation expenses, and supplies for the widows to begin home-based businesses. We are working individually with each woman to help her move toward economic independence. We have a project liaison in Kabul who is doing an exceptional job at keeping this program flourishing. In the near future, we will be uploading photographs and narratives of some of our grantees. Their stories and efforts to achieve success are guaranteed to touch your hearts. HOW DOES GSR WORK? Our project liason in Kabul conducts an initial screening of widows in need. This screening includes verifying current levels of income, and determining the sincerity and motivation of each applicant to succeed in a self-betterment program. Next, our project liason in Kabul submits an application for each potential grantee that includes details of why the applicant thinks she should be eligible for funding, and how she intends to utilize the microgrant. Then, project coordinators in Afghanistan and the U.S. review each application to determine eligibility and the level of need. Once approved, the applicant receives her first monthy disbursement. In addition, each grantee is assigned to a GSR mentor who will become her coach and grant guide throughout the duration of the funding period. In order to be eligible for subsequent disbursements, each grantee must submit a monthly progress report. The progress report includes details of how she used the grant money during the past month, plus an outline of financial/productivity goals for the upcoming month. Since most of our grantees are illiterate, the reports are given orally in Dari, then transcribed into English. Upon review and acceptance of each progress report, we release another disbursement. The normative time to personal independence is twelve months. WHAT IS THE SECRET BEHIND OUR SUCCESS? Consistency, accountability, and strong doses of guidance and encouragement. We at FSR believe, that with a little bit of assistance, each woman can succeed. While we closely monitor the continuing eligibilty of each grantee, our international network of women mentors provide one-on-one self-reliance coaching and guidance. Our mentors are multiculturally sensitive women who have achieved their own self-reliance by developing the skills necessary to effectively overcome extreme hardships in their own lives. Our mentors are dedicated to helping other disadvantaged women succeed. For more information contact: 510.797.4660 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

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