Women's Income Generating Group

In Uganda, a major part of transportation relies on bicycles. This method of transportation is used for distant travels, for selling crops at the market, and for transporting food and water. A woman can carry approximately 20 L of water on her head, however, by bicycle she can carry 40-80 L in the same amount of time for a longer distance. Bicycles, are a great means of improving the standard of living for a Ugandan family.

One woman that has greatly benefited from her work at Shanti Uganda, is 40 year old Teopista. Teopista has been working at Shanti since 2009, as a member of the Women's Income Generating Group. Specializing in the cutting and bead making process, she fabricates beautiful jewelry which is then sold online at shantiuganda.org. Teopista, mother of three children; son 22, daughter 17, and son 6, lives in a village 4 miles from Shanti. After 7 years of walking 4 hours a day to and from work, she has saved enough money to buy a bicycle.

Not only will this new method of transportation save Teopista time and effort getting to and from work, but to a local market as well where she buys and sells vegetables. This bicycle allows her to spend more time selling and working on her products and being at home with her 6 year old son. Theopista has been a widow since her children were young and the bicycle will help her greatly. Teopista now has more time to care her children, herself, and has the means of paying for her son's school fees and her rented home.

We are happy to see that the women in the Women's Income Generating Group at Shanti are learning and applying the business skills necessary for them to succeed.