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Provide opportunities, not aid

Obumwe Business Start-up Microfinance Project

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Obumwe Business start-up is a microfinance loan mainly for women to start-up a business or to grow an existing one.

Since we started the programme less than 2 years ago, over 50 unsecured loans of between £250 and £750 have been made to women-led community groups to finance income-generating projects.The loans funded a variety of projects, mostly agricultural, including bee-keeping, livestock rearing and crop growing.

The project is self-funding and we are proud of its 100% repayment record. We aim to expand this project to benefit more women-led community projects by providing access to capital and business skills to help them to grow and add value to their community led projects, particularly in the field of agro-processing.

To support the Obumwe Business start-up micro-finance programme click donate. Your donation will go towards our revolving credit deposit to reach and empower women.

Women’s group receive the first high value Obumwe loan

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Handing over a new loan to NFPA
Handing over a new loan to NFPA

One of the recipients of an Obumwe loan was the New Foundation Parents Association (NFPA). NFPA was constituted in 2009; the group currently has a membership of 25 (2 male, 23 female) and operate based in Katasya village, Nyarurambi parish, Muko Sub County – in the newly constituted Rubanda district, SW Uganda. They received an Obumwe loan in January 2014, which they initially injected into their savings & loans association kit; the proceeds were ploughed back to finance several development initiatives. The loan was repaid on schedule and the group has used the proceeds from the loan to grow over the past two years.

Members of the NFPA dance on receipt of their new loan
Members of the NFPA dance on receipt of their new loan

Following a visit to the group on our recent trip to Uganda we were delighted to have been able to offer them our first higher value Obumwe loan. The group will use this to complete the production of 11,000+ bricks, increase the size of their apiary project and invest in agricultural production.

This increase in the scale of the Obumwe micro-finance programme was thanks to a few generous donors who have injected funds into this self-financing programme.

To contribute to the self-financing Obumwe fund click here

Opportunities, not aid.

Walking with the community

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Newly Elected Obumwe Microfinance Association Members in Muko Sub-County
Newly Elected Obumwe Microfinance Association Members in Muko Sub-County

The communities that work with us on our successful Obumwe Micro Finance scheme take their responsibilities seriously. They have decided to set up a committee of 10 members to represent the two sub-counties where the loans are distributed. This committee will be responsible for vetting loan applications and ensuring that repayments are made on time so that the next groups in line can benefit. This is a great example walking alongside communities and providing opportunities not aid.

 
We currently have 12 loans out with different groups but there is a continuing demand for more first time loans and higher value second round loans. You can contribute to the Obumwe fund by donating here 

Obumwe loan recipients conserve their environment

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Grp members prepare for excavating land conservation ditch
Grp members prepare for excavating land conservation ditch

The women’s groups that we support through our Obumwe micro-finance scheme come together for many reasons.  The Muko Obumwe group was initially formed to counter the increasing land degradation in the region through soil and water conservation techniques. Hence they planted Elephant Grass among several other agro forestry species. They also excavate ditches to check soil erosion and as catchment for rain water, especially over very steep terrain.

 

 

Planting elephant grass for land conservation
Planting elephant grass for land conservation

We are proud to support The Muko Obumwe group and others like them through provision of opportunities, not aid.

You can support our Obumwe micro-finance scheme, which has a 100% repayment record, by making a donation to the scheme.  Just click here

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