Lead Writer- Mogbonjubade Adesulure
Discover how a project implemented by Save the Children Nigeria sparked a real change in Maimuna’s life and family, boosting her business growth, securing her children's education, and strengthening her family's livelihood.
Maimuna is married with four children; her husband is a labourer; he earns a living by loading and offloading goods from trucks. Three of Maimuna’s children participated in a Catch-Up Club (CUC) program under the PLANE window 3 project implemented by Save the Children Nigeria in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The CUC is a three-month accelerated community-based learning program designed to support out-of-school and in-school children aged 9–13 who are lagging in school to build their foundational literacy skills. Accelerated, learner-friendly methods are used to close learning gaps and prepare children to rejoin or stay in formal education. Maimuna told us how the CUC made a remarkable difference in her children’s academic performance.
There has been a big change. Even before they graduated from the program, when they came home, you’d see them reading. And doing that really improved their academic performance…
Maimuna was able to enrol her children successfully in a private school. Her son, who hadn’t started school before the CUC class, was also enrolled.
Three of Maimuna's children gazing into the camera for a photograph. Mogbonjubade Adesulure/Save the Children
Beyond the progress in her children’s education, Maimuna herself benefited immensely from the Village Savings Loan Association (VSLA) program supported by Save the Children in partnership with FCDO. The Village Savings Loan Associations (VSLA) is part of a broader approach to Household Economic Strengthening (HES) under the PLANE window 3 project. Through VSLA, groups of 15–25 community members come together to pool weekly savings. Members can access small loans to grow their businesses or respond to urgent needs, while a social fund supports emergencies like health or school fees. Before joining the VSLA, Maimuna ran a small business from home, making kunu and waina (local drinks and snacks). But it wasn’t enough to adequately take care of her family.
Back then, I’d be wondering how to manage. I’d be thinking, From this small business money, we need to buy something for breakfast and also save something for lunch, and we’d just be waiting for whenever God provides and my husband returns with whatever he earns.
Depending on her husband’s income meant that if he wasn’t around, there was a struggle to meet some of their needs. Things changed when Maimuna joined the VSLA program; her business expanded significantly! Maimuna ventured into farming and began selling okra, rice, beans, and other grains. She also tapped into the wedding market, offering services related to ceremonial items.
You see, with the arrival of PLANE project, my business expanded beyond just those two small things I used to do. I now have multiple sources of income, and even if I spend money from one, I’m not worried.
Maimuna sits in front of her apartment, with some of the food items she sells displayed before her. Mogbonjubade Adesulure/Save the Children.
Maimuna and her family have made notable progress, achieving improved financial stability and advancing their children’s education. With the benefits Maimuna gained from joining the VSLA, she told her sisters about VSLA, and now four of my sisters have joined, Maimuna told us. One of her sisters, who often had no breakfast for herself and her children and used to send them out to hawk charcoal, now runs a small business and has three children enrolled in school.
We have progressed a lot. When it comes to my children’s education... They now understand what they are learning, and I know that they understand their lessons… So honestly, we don’t know what else to say but thank you for this program. We are truly grateful- Maimuna
Under the PLANE Window 3 project, over 3,000 households across Kano, Kaduna, and Jigawa have been reached through the VSLA program. The PLANE is a four-year education program funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). PLANE aims to improve learning outcomes. It is designed to address the foundational literacy and numeracy needs of children at risk of dropping out or those who have been out of school for up to 2 years. As an integrated program, PLANE includes several components, one of which is Household Economic Strengthening. This component is aimed at supporting caregivers’ economic capacity to keep children in school through initiatives like the Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA).
