IDS/SSH PROJECT BENEFICIARY – ASEBE

The compound is filled, and people from all parts of the country must have been divinely made to live here, it is the micro sum of the ethnic composition of Nigeria. when each household engages in conversation, a lot of sweet sounds can be heard but the common dominator is the vernacular known as pidgin language used by residents.

This compound is not the usual red spot with all blue lighting as the regular motel but here is where all the supplies of the night-run babes live and Asabe is one of them. Popularly known as run girls or hustlers, this is the new acronym for prostitution, its patronage is as high as its demand and there are no entry requirements for the ladies. it is just a willingness and guts.

Asabe has no intention to live the life she found herself, a daughter of a parent who dies at an early age due to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic, forcing her to drop out of school. Asebe was taken from her Village by her Aunty to Abuja with the promise of sending her back to school, rather than keeping her promise, Asabe Aunty makes her work in her beer bar where she slept over and gives her to her male customers for sex and gets paid in Asabe absence.

Asabe got used to the trade and finally ran away from the Aunty and was living at a Brothel, this is how her journey to a strange life all began some years back. According to her, a take-home for a day is about three to five thousand Naira if the security men did not raid, the rent is five hundred Naira charged daily and feeding takes a larger choke of the wages minus medicals

Asabe never thought she will quiz her trending job so soon till she was lucky to be linked with Intercommunity Development Social Organization (IDS) formally Integrated Development Services (IDS) Vocational Training Center funded by the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria Special Self Help (SSH) Project in 2010.

The skills acquisition process provided the window for Asabe and other vulnerable women/girls and boys to learn various skills focusing on Hairdressing, Tailoring, Knitting, Detergent and cosmetic production, Bakery and Agricultural productive value chain. Other training services offered at the Centre include small business recording keeping training, marketing, and entrepreneurship development for a training duration of 6months to one year.  With additional grants support from African Women Development Fund (AWDF) Ghana in 2013, Asabe just like other beneficiaries was supported with a start-up capital through a conditional cash transfer (CCT) to establish her own small business (Tailoring Shop) where she has been working to earn her living and also employed many other young girls and women. In addition to setting up her own shop, Asebe also works as a Master Trainer with IDS and has trained over 100 marginalized women/girls and boys who are currently doing great in their various endeavours.

According to Asabe,” IDS and the American People have changed my life forever. I knew I can work with my hands now and earn myself a living. Gone is the time I used my body to make living, now am responsible for myself and happy with my life.”

Asabe now used her shop with the support of IDS to mentor some of her old colleagues by advising them to get enrolled in the IDS Vocational Training Centre for counselling to stop their trades and change their life.