Three young women are competing with the menfolk as they struggle to dig a gutter that would channel water into newly constructed fish ponds. Aimee Ouluzon, Laure Oulai and Olga Sea are among 25 ex-combatants who decided to take up fish farming after a one- month training programme at the re-socialisation centre in Bouafle during which they were also taught the basic notions of human rights, citizenship and non-violence.

"I had no idea about fish farming before the crisis but now it's alright. I learn quickly and with the group everything is going just fine," Aimee Ouluzon said.



"I hope to be able to contribute to the running of my home because previously it was my husband who bore all the responsibilities. Right now I think I am more useful," Laure Oulai said with a smile.

The group is well organized with a president, Joel Botingny while Olga Sea is treasurer and Germain Goua is auditor.



Asked why they preferred the community reinsertion project to individual projects, Botingny said "with individual projects the tendency is to be careless with money since there is no control. This could lead to the squandering of finances, whereas with the group, one is obliged to be correct; members are vigilant and there is mutual surveillance to avoid going astray."

The ex-combatants have had the support of the inhabitants of the village including their Chief, Jean-Luc Yoroneho. "It's like manna from heaven for the young people and I can only encourage them," he said.

Germain Goua however raised some difficulties they face including the fact that financial assistance granted them amounted to CFA 600,000 (1,200 USD) while their counterparts for the second phase of the programme will receive CFA 800,000 (1,600 USD). "We are appealing to UNOCI and the national Authority for Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (ADDR) to review the amount," he pleaded.

In another location, this time in the Guiglo neighbourhood of 'Nicla',

the president of the group Hyppolite Louan and his nine comrades decided to take up poultry farming. They are on the verge of completing the construction of the farm while their training in poultry farming is getting up to speed as preparations for the delivery of day- old chickens are underway. The NGO "Terre d' Esperance" is conducting the training programme.

Making the projects sustainable constitutes a challenge and the ex-combatants and their trainers are aware of this. "UNOCI and other NGOs would not always be there to lend us support; that is why we are advising them to adopt good management of the projects. Someday each member would like to run his own poultry thanks to the income generated by this project," said Fabien Litto Sekala of the 'Nicla' NGO.



The first phase of the Community Reintegration Projects programme has so far financed 8 projects involving 250 ex-combatants throughout the country. Guiglo and Duekoue towns have had 7 projects involving

210 ex-combatants in the area of fishing, fish, poultry, pig and goat farming; hardware store and cold store. The second phase would comprise 71 projects and would involve 1,176 persons throughout the country.