In 2011 Eloise and I came to Uganda on a trip to help plan the vision for Cents for Seeds. Eloise went on a training run (as she does, while I sleep…) and met a woman called Margaret from a village called Abako. They chatted for 10km or so as she rode her bike faster than usual to keep up with Eloise. Eloise told her all about Cents for Seeds, our micro loan agriculture program for women in northern Uganda. Margaret said that she thought Abako would love a program like that and today, 7 years later, we visited Abako to begin Cents for Seeds there with 250 women. It is one of two new areas that we are moving in to in 2018, bringing the total number of women in the program for 2018 to 13,800. That’s 13,800 women who are now earning an income and providing for their families.
Watching them complete the survey was so moving. The women who couldn’t read or write were considering their answers so carefully. I believe that the very act of asking these questions is an empowering act… these women who do not necessarily have much agency are being asked for their opinion, their feelings, their thoughts on their own lives. Their lives count, and with their voice we can measure the impact that every $30 donation is having in Uganda. “But how?” I hear you ask…