Engaging Ugandan AIDS Widows in Business

Summary

Trickle Up helps the lowest income widows in Uganda take the first steps out of poverty by providing business training, conditional seed money and support services to start or expand a small business.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

In Uganda, many older women have lost their husbands to HIV/AIDS and are frequently the sole caregivers for a range of children and grandchildren. They carry out this role with a great degree of pride and innovation. The Trickle Up Program is implemented through local partner agencies, whose programs in areas such as sustainable agriculture, vocational training, serving HIV/AIDS-affected people, street children, and women’s empowerment complement our micro-enterprise program.

How will this project solve this problem?

Trickle Up provides business capital to entrepreneurs in the form of grants and basic business training geared to illiterates. Each business receives a grant of $100 distributed in two $50 installments.

Potential Long Term Impact

The financial well-being, health and education benefits, along with women’s empowerment, that stem from our programs are having tangible results among our clients.

Project Message

Previously people had to give me kerosene, clothing and my high blood pressure medicine. Now I can support myself by cultivating my garden with the marketing and sales skills that I've learned.
- Constance Tchalima, entrepreneur in southwest Uganda

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources