What is a project support programme scheme?
Obumwe Project Support Programme was designed in collaboration with recipient groups and its principle is that small community projects are supported financially with between one and two million shillings (£250 – £500). The communities we support are disadvantaged or marginalised women’s led groups situated in a remote and impoverished location is south western Uganda.
The groups make use of the financial support and repay it after 6 months, which coincides with the length of a growing season in the region. Subsequent financial support is not made until the original finance is repaid, resulting in strong inter-group peer pressure and a high repayment rate from the support recipients.
The key benefit of this scheme is that the same funds are used time and again whilst the recipient groups become less reliant on aid.
What are the principles of the Obumwe Project Support Programme?
Alongside Africa Uganda (AAU) manages the scheme; which is focused on supporting womens’ groups, many of whom are AIDS widows in Rubanda District, South Western Uganda. The name for our new scheme ‘Obumwe’ was chosen by our local AAU colleagues, meaning ‘Unity’ in the local Bakiga (pronounced Bachiga) language with the guiding principles of oneness, unity, mutual good will, transparency, and collective pooling of resources and ideas. The committee of group leaders identify the groups that need financial assistance to get their project or business off the ground, which currently include potato growing, goat rearing, poultry rearing, and bee-keeping and make recommendations to the Alongside Africa team. Once they have met the qualifying criteria for the Scheme, training is undertaken on how they can participate and benefit and Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) savings kits are provided. Training includes:
- Group participation
- A savings’ culture and financial discipline.
- The qualities of transparency, ethical conduct and integrity.
Obumwe Project Support Programme has now been operating since its inception at the start of 2014. It has supported more than 100 marginalised and disadvantaged groups in south western Uganda, providing opportunities, not aid to those who need it most.
By donating to support the Obumwe Project Support Programme you will be empowering the women to expand their farms or projects and enable us to to expand our outreach programme to support more women-led projects.
You can help us grow this valuable scheme by adding to the Obumwe fund – a donation of £250 will allow use to support two groups each year.