our story

Registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission(CAC) in November 2020, Work of Mercy Initiative (WOMI) focuses on two main areas; women and young people.

Keying into the Sustainable development goals, WOMI is working to improve the condition of impoverished women and young people for economic sustenance through access to interest-free loans; human capacity development(education and skill acquisition), and enlightenment(awareness creation)

The empowerment of women, to a large extent, guarantees improved family livelihood. WOMI aims to provide opportunities for as many women as possible to be independent, which gives them the freedom to equal rights, to be better informed, to be confident and responsible, and to aspire for leadership positions. WOMI pursues the goal of empowering less privileged women to improve their living conditions by providing them with access to interest-free loans and promoting entrepreneurial development for the improved overall well-being of disadvantaged women.

WOMI is passionate about helping women and young people access quality life, which will help them gain confidence and aspire to become leaders in their communities

Currently, WOMI has empowered over 2007 indigent women in Wumba and Gwagwalada communities in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and at Nsukka(Nkpuruikwere, Umuchim,Umuejor,Umuamoke,Umuahaka,Amukwa,Mbuke,Umudiukwu,Amoshua,Umuezebi villages in Ihe-community and Umudim,Umueze,Amaji and Admabia villages in Umakashi community) in Enugu State, Nigeria.

However, the number of beneficiaries increases every month through the recirculation system( a system whereby the monthly collections from the women in each community are used to empower more women in the same community).

WOMI has also educated young people on the Effects of drug abuse on young people, Preparing teenagers for 21st-century business-driven careers, My Health- My Asset, My Body-My Consent, and more.

WHY WORK OF MERCY INITIATIVE?

The Founder of Work of Mercy Initiative, Mrs. Eberechukwu Chinazom Ugwunweze, was unemployed as a young graduate for 8 years. Having struggled for eight years, she could feel the pain of an unemployed woman even though she was busy raising children. As soon as she got a job, she quickly thought of how to alleviate the sufferings of women. She asked her mother to search for women in abject poverty to whom she could render help as little as she could. She then saved some money and sent it to her mother every quarter of the year to give to women so they could start businesses.

This practice was on for about 8 years. As the financial needs of her family increased, she could not continue anymore. Incidentally, in December 2018, the Founder joined a Christian Organization(Friends of Our Lady of Aokpe) for a “Help the poor outreach” at Kabusa in Abuja. She therefore discovered that so many families are living in abject poverty in that community. During the Lenten period 2019, she decided to carry out her lenten obligation in that community.

Moreover, she started thinking of providing a lasting solution to the plight of some of these people. The idea of empowering poor women which would in turn benefit their families was re-conceived

However, during the Covid -19 pandemic, her hairstylist, whom she had fallen out of due to the latter’s greed called for assistance from her, emphasizing that her family was dying of hunger. The hairstylist trekked from Kabusa to Garki, a 28.4 km walk to meet Mrs Eberechukwu. Because of the pandemic, she stood outside waiting for Mrs. Ebere. As soon as Mrs. Ebere delivered some food stuff/cash to her, she knelt in appreciation.

Her action deeply touched Mrs. Eberechukwu. Later in the evening, she called to tell Mrs. Ebere she got home safely. She thanked her repeatedly but added that her neighbours faced the same predicament.

Then, Mrs. Ebere thought of rendering help by feeding as many people as she could in that community. She planned with her family, cooked with the help of a cook, and fed over 400 people in Kabusa village.

She strongly felt the need to empower poor women by giving them seed money to start businesses. She, therefore, planned with her husband and started giving out interest-free loans to women. She later invited some friends to join and that brought about “Work Of Mercy Initiative”.

>> How does WOMI achieve these for Women?

We create groups through which the provision of sustainable development programmes to households are made possible. A wide range of social goals/aims/objectives such as financial education, women’s empowerment, Literacy, business training, sanitation, childrearing/nourishment and health are supported by the development intervention.

WOMI works to ensure a long-term implementation of social interventions by striving to sustain these groups. When this is achieved, there will be a continuous flow of financial services for the women(members).

An opportunity for women in disadvantaged conditions who are enterprising to take a free interest loan of a given maximum amount to do business in other to gain financial freedom and support their families. The beneficiaries are allowed to trade with the loan for 2 months and pay back 10% of the capital monthly over a period of ten months. When the loan is paid in full, these women have the opportunity to take another loan. This will be dependent on the progress made in their businesses. The idea of the repayment is to enable more women to benefit in the scheme and promote its sustainability.

This program is executed mostly on a community-based level. WOMI works through community women’s groups. From these groups, a smaller group of the beneficiaries are created. Providing access to financial resources is simply not enough. WOMI aims to create avenue through which the following are achieved for the beneficiaries:

encouraged to meet periodically and discuss their common interest.
In society, women are mostly excluded in various things. This avenue would help them to address their sources of exclusion that prevent them from attaining their self-actualization.
Encouraged to discuss topics that would help them share knowledge and experiences, thus, building common trust among themselves
Improve their skills (Capacity building) by receiving different relevant trainings and workshops on financial trainings (e g. Book-keeping, Saving etc.), sanitation, child nutrition, health and more.

The success/progress attained by the beneficiaries would be a source of encouragement and motivation to other women who are yet to join the scheme. The women would appoint among themselves leaders to work with WOMI personnel to see to the payback routines and progress of every member.

In the first instance, women groups are met by WOMI through the village Chiefs and religious leaders depending on the active structure in the community. These intermediaries would serve as guarantors to the women-groups.