AWBG: Atiak Womens Business Group in Northern Uganda.

        Empowered women. Empowered Communities.

As a group of women living in Atiak, Northern Uganda, Africa, we wish to not only improve our lives but our community. We are survivors. We have survived armed conflict, child abductions, rape and sex slavery, the massacre of our families, HIV/AIDS, and IDP camps. The Acholi people have suffered so much from the war with LRA rebels and we are all ready to move on. We are not despondent and we do not give up that easily. Please read on to find out more about our business and how you can invest responsibly in the development of our region.

We believe in everyone’s fundamental right to education, access to healthcare, right to prosperity and abundance, as well as safety and security.

 

Give a woman a fish; feed her for a day. Teach a woman to fish; feed her for a lifetime!

Caleb's Hope's Nyara Project focuses on small business development, personal development, and female empowerment: training women to be self-sufficient successful entrepreneurs and wholly empowered people. What makes Caleb's Hope different than most charities? We don't believe in creating a co-dependency cycle between the charity, the donors, and those 'in need'.  We act as a business consultant and training resource for women who want to take charge of their life. We are a temporary safety net for those who find themselves facing extraordinary hardship and want to get back on their feet.

Empowered women create a better world. Why? Because they raise compassionate, intelligent, courageous children. Because they stand up for gender equality. Because they are at peace in their hearts and see the good in others. Because they attract partners that are their equal, not their abuser. Because they can pursue a career of their dreams and contribute to society. Because they are human and all humans should be empowered.

Our beneficiaries are a tremendous group of kick butt women. There are 19 beneficiaries to date and with their children, there are 97 people we currently facilitate in this program.

The women are survivors of war, rape, sex slavery and other forms of gender-based violence as well as being HIV/AIDS widows and orphans and former child soldiers. 

Female entrepreneurs changing the face of Northern Uganda.

We, the women of Nyara Project, have developed, through the assistance and training provided by Caleb's Hope, a female small-business development group with our own counsel and governing body. We have named ourselves AWBG - Atiak Women’s Business Group. This group is open to women in the rural community who are serious about developing entrepreneurial skills so they can lift themselves out of poverty, have great success as a business woman, and teach our children that you can change your life.

We began our business training with paper bead jewellery making. While we continue this successful venture, we wish to expand our skills and our reach in business by entering into Shea production for cosmetic use. We are a committed group of women, both young and old, changing the face of Northern Uganda. We hope you will support us in our new initiative.

Our dream is a Shea production facility with an emphasis on conservation and correct harvesting, cultivation and regeneration of Shea trees in Atiak Sub-County. We do want the economy in Northern Uganda to thrive, however we do not want to exploit the environment for our personal gain. What will be left for our children and their children? This is why applying proper education about conservation to our Shea harvesting and production is very important to us. We hope to be an example to our community and provide education to others on the importance of environmental awareness.  People are desperate to make money to provide for their families so the trees are being cut for charcoal that is sold for very little. We must protect the trees not just for future profit, but for the future of us all.

Shea trees are naturally occurring in Northern Uganda. However they are beginning to fade in some areas - including Atiak Sub-County - due to the lack of conservation education. We know we can change this.

The Shea butter found in Northern Uganda produces high-quality oil that is much softer than the Shea found in West Africa. This makes it excellent for cosmetics which we would like to see our product reach. We already have an agreement with Canadian cosmetic company Sa Avani to purchase our Shea once we have met a high grade of Shea butter quality. We want to reach this benchmark and we know we can with your support. 

Our Shea production facility will start out very small as all companies do with only two pieces of machinery to generate high-quality Shea butter. Through hard work and dedication, we know this company will thrive and impact the lives of many people.

We require $5000 to buy these two pieces of equipment. The remaining $2000 goes towards the necessary production training*, general start-up costs, education about environmental conservation in the community, ensuring our Shea products meet international quality control standards, and finding a safe building in which we can begin our Shea production.

$7000 is the base minimum that is required. If we exceed this funding goal, it will help us tremendously. 

*note that all business administrative and governance training as well as business plan development is provided by qualified professionals within and without Uganda through Caleb's Hope.

We have decided that although we would like to give substantial perks to all our supporters, we are limiting what we send out only because it takes money away from the business initiative. We don't believe it is fair to use supporters' money to send out gifts to these same supporters!

Instead, with the assistance of Caleb's Hope, we will thank our supporters online through Facebook, Twitter and of course our website!  We will send out a thank-you video online and will continue to send updates on our company progress.

We believe that most people aren't supporting a cause because they are hoping to get something in return. We believe that you support us because you believe in us and you are a part of a global movement for positive social change. When you support all 19 of us, you support a community of thousands.

We are very excited about this new initiative and we hope you will invest in our wonderful business. Please contribute what you can and share this campaign with your family, friends and colleagues. Use the share tools to email this campaign or share it through social media. Thank-you for your time and may you always be blessed and in good health.

If you are ever in Uganda, you will always be our honoured guest.