Human Development Initiatives (HDI) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation whose main objectives are to build human capacity with emphasis on development; promote human development ideals; propagate and disseminate information on human development ideals and civic education at the grassroots and other levels of education; engage in developmental/educational activities such as research studies, seminars, conferences, street law programmes; investigate social malaise, prepare reports and publication.
Life- skills and Economic Empowerment service continues to be a key event in the light of endemic poverty in the society. Poverty is accentuated by lack of skills for livelihood. Therefore, this activity provides an opportunity to build life skills for beneficiaries in order that they may enjoy other rights. Introduced in 1999, the programme has become a key poverty alleviation tool for poor families especially widows both young and old who have never had livelihood skills or means of economic survival. Since introduced, we have trained over 600 families in life skills. Four years ago, this annual activity was made national, drawing participants and potential trainers from the six geo-political zones of the country. The activity is broken into components that include practical and theoretical aspects of cottage industry establishment and management. Modules include – small business management; book keeping;
A centre providing free legal and psychosocial counseling services was inaugurated in 1998 to address diverse forms of challenges widows encounter as a result of the demise of their spouse. These include the procurement of letters of administrations where the husband died intestate. i.e. without a will:
• Free legal counseling is given to enlighten widows of their rights and legal status so as to protect themselves from violation and abuse of their rights. In addition ,young people are served pro bono services on request .
• The widowhood rights mediation with external organizations enables HDI interpose between widows and employers of their deceased spouses, public establishment, and family/relations...
