To empower women living in Uganda to overcome poverty, the Outreach Uganda team markets beaded crafts and jewelry handmade in women’s groups. With an expansion of similar products on the market, they were facing tough competition. Read their story to learn how they kept up.
The Outreach Uganda team identified a problem: possible decreased revenue from the women’s fair trade beaded crafts and jewelry due to a more competitive market. The leadership at Outreach Uganda understood how vital the revenue was to women on the brink of poverty. “This source of revenue took much pressure off the Ugandan women, and they no longer felt like they were living day to day,” they shared. With that revenue source in jeopardy, they needed to come up with solutions, and fast.
The Outreach Uganda needed help brainstorming possible solutions to a problem that seemed so big. The team turned to the “Fast Idea Generator Worksheet,” from the Nesta Development & You Toolkit, to brainstorm ways to look at the problem differently and come up with solutions quickly.
What matters most to the Outreach Uganda is the success of the women they serve. With the help of the Fast Idea Generator Worksheet, they are moving forward. They created a mobile-friendly website, started selling on Amazon, and enhanced their monthly giving program. They shared the power of the Fast Idea Generator Worksheet with GlobalGiving:
“This tool encouraged us to do more brainstorming regarding issues that face us and to be more creative in bringing up even wild ideas.”
It’s clear that Outreach Uganda has the women they serve in mind and they look to them to help come up with solutions to better their lives. Farley Sawyer, who visited Outreach Uganda as a member of GlobalGiving’s Field Program, had this to share about David, Outreach Uganda’s Program Coordinator. “He visits Kitgum at least once a month to receive feedback from the women. The women prioritize their needs, communicate them to Outreach Uganda, and then they work out a solution together.”
Are you ready to be inspired to come up with creative solutions to your organization’s challenges? Start your Listen, Act, Learn. Repeat. journey today by using the “Fast Idea Generator Worksheet.” If you are already part of GlobalGiving, go to GG Rewards to earn points for sharing what you’ve learned.
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