IGNITE is a new business loan and savings project that was launched this past summer, 2015, with the help of a small team from Riverside, California and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Purpose
The women have been diligently attending classes and receiving vocational training the past nine months and are ready to take the next step toward self-sustaining lives. Not all the women are meant for the business world; our hope is to provide the women who are passionate about business with opportunities (micro-finance loans and savings accounts) to move forward.
Training
Women receive business and financial training, which includes: Biblical business principles, how to write a business plan, financial management and budgeting. Following the training, the women go through the application process for selection.
Women are selected in accordance with the depth of their business plans and commitment to the program. The women sign business contracts and receive loans specific to the needs of their business. Once the loan is paid off, the money is recycled to other micro-entrepreneurs in the programs.
Outcome
Currently, 9 micro-loans have been facilitated and all the women are still in business and in the process of repaying the loan. 45% of the total capital invested has been repaid.
Accountability
The women make weekly payments to Vicki Kyanzi, the Program Manager who also visits the businesses bi-weekly, writes up full reports on each women and holds quarterly business training sessions.
If you wish to make a donation to help us fund these loans please click here!
Meet the Entrepreneurs
Dezeranta Nakkisozi (Daisy) is full of humor and has a permanent smile on her face. She is the single mother of 6 children ages 17, 15, 12, 11, 7 and 3 and has had two children pass way. She is full of life and eager to pursue business at the next level. Daisy is currently running a charcoal and produce business in the marketplace. She sells a wide range of produce along with bananas from Grace’s farm.
Samalie Nankinga is a compassionate grandmother who launched a small water business where she sells from home. She sells clean water to her community from a 50-gallon water tank. With the rainy season approaching, there is huge potential for the profit of this business.
Rachel Nakijjoba is a young, single mother with a 3-year-old daughter. She had to drop out of school due to various factors and is now determined to work hard to make a better life for her daughter. She began a produce and charcoal business, similar to Daisy’s. She buys wholesale produce and charcoal along with produce from Grace’s farm and sells it at a retail price. The goal is to eventually sell only what she gets from Grace’s farm, which will result in a greater profit and a more sustainable system.
Robinah Nakkazi is the mother of 8 children, ages 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4. She is one of the pioneer women of Empowering Nations as she has been around since day one. Robinah began a poultry business where she will raise and sell chickens from her home. Her neighbor sells chickens in the market and will be partnering with Robinah in market sales. Her chickens are happy and healthy, they should be large enough to sell by December.
Dorothy Nabbumba is the single mother of 4 beautiful children and 4 grandchildren. She is a very diligent member of Empowering Nations. She used the loan money to build a compound with a help of her family which will purpose as a rental business. She has completed the structure and with the help of her family, paid the loan off in full! She will begin renting out the space in Early December.
