Our mission is to provide the skills, training and resources needed to empower residents of the Acholi Quarter in Kampala, Uganda to grow sustainable businesses and end poverty. We accomplish this by creating a market for their wares, mentoring them in the development process, and providing microfinance support to launch new businesses. At the same time, we are providing charitable outreach to support the families and children of the community.
How We Do It...
While the saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” has become overused, it is the litmus test for measuring the success of what we do. We ask of every program, “Are we providing fish to people or teaching people to fish?” We believe in providing the tool of microfinance funds. We also know, through experience, that these funds can become the equivalent of providing a fish. Just providing a loan without the guidance and education needed to successfully run all facets of a small business will often times have the recipient returning for additional funds. In other words, seeking another fish. They are circling around in the system instead of moving through it. It is our intent to provide the skills and resources to empower recipients to move onward, upward and outward. Ultimately, returning to teach the skills they once lacked and mentor others.
Who We Are...
Uganda Beads joins together Wholesale Relief and Life in Africa to work with the people of the Acholi Quarter in Kampala, Uganda to foster community growth, business development and vision for the future. Wholesale Relief’s passion, expertise and dedication to Social Entrepreneurship combined with Life in Africa’s wealth of experience in Uganda make the partnership uniquely qualified to create and implement programs that provide self-sustaining relief for the people of this area. We are intimately aware that there are immediate needs for daily life that must be met, and we provide resources for these needs. However, our mission is to teach these people to develop ideas based on their interests and skills, and then to support them in funding and growing these ideas into viable and successful businesses. Through a progressive program of immediate charity, employment opportunities, education, microfinance and mentoring, we move people from basic survival to self-sustaining entrepreneurship. The empty space created by each graduate is then filled by another person in need. It is our intent and ultimate goal to help every person in the Acholi Quarter who is willing to work and learn.
Our Program...
Residents in need enter as members of a Community Based Organization (CBO). This CBO is a government registered entity wholly-owned by its members. The CBO is responsible for the manufacturing of our Uganda Beads product line. As a group they work together and learn about the components of successful business, including key input variables, raw materials, production schedules, quality control, new product development, appropriation of funds for cost of goods, and the importance of communicating with customers. All CBO members share in a mid-month draw and a once-a-month distribution of profits. The draw and profits provide the members with a wage three times the norm for the area. This income stream stabilizes their day to day lives and allows them to provide for their families’ basic needs of food and shelter.
The CBO, working with the board of Life in Africa, develops business ideas for review and discussion. After mentoring and education, the final business plans are reviewed and voted upon by the CBO. Selected plans are submitted to Wholesale Relief for funding consideration. Upon approval, the funding is provided to the microfinance program of Life in Africa to be administered.
Members of the CBO who receive funding then launch their new venture with business oversight, support and the tools to succeed. Their vacant positions are filled with new members. Through the organic growth of Uganda Beads and the repayment of loans, more funds are made available to continue the process.
Additional Charitable Outreach...
Wholesale Relief and Life in Africa have additional charitable programs which help those who cannot help themselves and solve immediate threats to survival. These include distributing mosquito nets, providing emergency health care, paying school fees, giving financial assistance to families who adopt orphans, and assisting in new home construction.
How We Do It...
While the saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” has become overused, it is the litmus test for measuring the success of what we do. We ask of every program, “Are we providing fish to people or teaching people to fish?” We believe in providing the tool of microfinance funds. We also know, through experience, that these funds can become the equivalent of providing a fish. Just providing a loan without the guidance and education needed to successfully run all facets of a small business will often times have the recipient returning for additional funds. In other words, seeking another fish. They are circling around in the system instead of moving through it. It is our intent to provide the skills and resources to empower recipients to move onward, upward and outward. Ultimately, returning to teach the skills they once lacked and mentor others.
Who We Are...
Uganda Beads joins together Wholesale Relief and Life in Africa to work with the people of the Acholi Quarter in Kampala, Uganda to foster community growth, business development and vision for the future. Wholesale Relief’s passion, expertise and dedication to Social Entrepreneurship combined with Life in Africa’s wealth of experience in Uganda make the partnership uniquely qualified to create and implement programs that provide self-sustaining relief for the people of this area. We are intimately aware that there are immediate needs for daily life that must be met, and we provide resources for these needs. However, our mission is to teach these people to develop ideas based on their interests and skills, and then to support them in funding and growing these ideas into viable and successful businesses. Through a progressive program of immediate charity, employment opportunities, education, microfinance and mentoring, we move people from basic survival to self-sustaining entrepreneurship. The empty space created by each graduate is then filled by another person in need. It is our intent and ultimate goal to help every person in the Acholi Quarter who is willing to work and learn.
Our Program...
Residents in need enter as members of a Community Based Organization (CBO). This CBO is a government registered entity wholly-owned by its members. The CBO is responsible for the manufacturing of our Uganda Beads product line. As a group they work together and learn about the components of successful business, including key input variables, raw materials, production schedules, quality control, new product development, appropriation of funds for cost of goods, and the importance of communicating with customers. All CBO members share in a mid-month draw and a once-a-month distribution of profits. The draw and profits provide the members with a wage three times the norm for the area. This income stream stabilizes their day to day lives and allows them to provide for their families’ basic needs of food and shelter.
The CBO, working with the board of Life in Africa, develops business ideas for review and discussion. After mentoring and education, the final business plans are reviewed and voted upon by the CBO. Selected plans are submitted to Wholesale Relief for funding consideration. Upon approval, the funding is provided to the microfinance program of Life in Africa to be administered.
Members of the CBO who receive funding then launch their new venture with business oversight, support and the tools to succeed. Their vacant positions are filled with new members. Through the organic growth of Uganda Beads and the repayment of loans, more funds are made available to continue the process.
Additional Charitable Outreach...
Wholesale Relief and Life in Africa have additional charitable programs which help those who cannot help themselves and solve immediate threats to survival. These include distributing mosquito nets, providing emergency health care, paying school fees, giving financial assistance to families who adopt orphans, and assisting in new home construction.