WNSP Provides Training and Support for a Single Mom

Vivian is a single mother with one son. She runs a small business as an agent of a milk dealer in Lira and
Gulu cities. The milk comes from a co-operative called Jesa in western Uganda. She used to try and save
her money in Soroti, which is 100 km away from where she has her small business. This past year a
friend of hers, who has been a member of Obanga-Akica Village Saving and Loan (VSL) group for three
years now, introduced her to this women’s group supported by WNSP. After going through the
qualifying process they accepted her to join their group and she started saving her money with the VSLA.

When the COVID lockdown mandates were enacted her business was closed down. She was worried
about how she was going to take care of herself and her son. She was able to use some of her savings to
sustain through this time. When the lockdown ended she began to think of ways she could boost her
income. By that time, she had saved with the VSLA group about UGX 1,500,000 (about 950 USD). In
May 2021 she went to the group to request a loan to boost her business. In May she borrowed UGX
3,000,000 (about 1900 USD)to add on her stock of milk and in August, three months later, she managed
to pay back the loan with all the interest (UGX 3,300,000). This loan enabled her to increase the number
of products she was able to represent and to reach additional clients with those products.

The demand for her products significantly increased and she went back to the group to request a larger
loan. This time she borrowed UGX 6,000,000 which was due with interest in three months. She paid
back the loan in full with the interest by the due date.

She is so grateful for the Obanga-Akica womens group and WNSP for their support and teaching on how
to grow your business and training on other income generating activities for women. Her business has
grown significantly and she is now supplying small retail dealers in the remote areas of Lira and Gulu.