Women's Income Generating Group

At the beginning of the year, Shanti Uganda’s Women’s Income Generating Group (WIGG) embarked on a new journey to business creation and management. They’ve been hard at work and we have lots of exciting news to share about their progress.

Shanti Uganda believes in community-led programs, and the WIGG group is no exception. First, the women met to discuss their desired outcomes and goals for the future followed by specific requests for workshops and trainings. From these discussions, two key needs were identified: business skills workshops and technical skills training programs.

From February 28 to March 3, the women participated in a business skills workshop which was facilitated by Ocakacon Lawrence, a certified trainer from Start and Improve Your Business Uganda, a local ILO-sanctioned organization. The members actively participated for the entire session and reported learning a great deal about budgeting, costing and marketing among other topics. Additionally, attendance was at 98% which is very impressive given the fact that they are primary caretakers for many of their children and grandchildren.

Following the business workshop, the members went on to participate in various technical skills workshops including pig rearing, tailoring and poultry rearing. A local councilman and veterinarian, Dr. Matovu, led the 3-day pig rearing workshop. When reared well, pigs yield very large profits in the Kasana-Luwero community so this was a highly-sought after course.

In the ongoing tailoring workshop, some members are learning to make a variety of garments including school uniforms for young children, sportswear for adults and gomesis for women. Gomesis are beautiful, traditional dresses worn by Ugandan women and are marked by brightly covered fabric, thick belts and pronounced shoulder puffs.

While completing these trainings, the women have also been working on their individual business plans which will guide them as they form their own businesses. These business plans encourage them to think about things like capital costs, indirect costs, advertising plans and construction costs.

In the next few months, the WIGG members will begin receiving micro-grants to open their own businesses. The women have expressed a strong desire to have hands-on support throughout this process and into the future to ensure that they are following their business plans closely and spending their money wisely.

The Shanti family is extremely proud of the progress the members have made. They have demonstrated an impressive desire to learn and grow in order to make informed decisions about their own businesses. We are confident that they are on their way to creating sustainable futures for themselves, their families and their communities.

We look forward to what the future has in store for these inspiring women and hope you will continue on this journey with us! Thank you for your generosity and continued support of this wonderful group. Without you, none of this would be possible!!!