We have been developing our exit strategy at Daughters, for girls who have been with us for 2 years or more. Our desire has always been that girls are able to graduate Daughters and live sustainable independent lives. Three girls entered our exit program in January 2010. These girls had been at Daughters for more than 2 years; they were reluctant and nervous about leaving. We arranged for them to buy sewing machines and over-lockers through a partnering micro-finance organization, and they started their own small businesses at home. The scheme is proving very successful so far. They have been taking in piecework from Daughters and producing high quality work much faster, as a result of which they have earned double what they had been earning at Daughters. We are currently creating a support structure for providing various other support structures that will help them be successful, including a social worker to visit weekly and business advice and support. These girls are able to attend the other programs at Daughters, including church, medical and counselling clinics and educational programs.
This scheme is in the early stages, but is considered so successful by the other girls that some have requested to buy sewing machines to work in their own homes, so we are expanding this program.
