How the Ghetto Project is Changing Lives in Kawempe Ghettos
In pursuit of making a lasting, meaningful impact on individuals and communities in Uganda, the Ghetto Project initiated by the Judith Nahurira Foundation, is gradually coming to fruition in the Kalerwe and Nsooba areas of Kawempe Division.
Derrick Nakibinge, also known as “Champali,” stands as a testament to the positive outcomes of the Ghetto Project. Through this initiative, Nakibinge received empowerment in the form of a sharper machine, significantly enhancing his productivity. His daily output of finished products increased from 10 sandals to an impressive fifty.
Residing in the modest confines of Kalerwe’s slums, Nakibinge operates with two tailoring machines, knife cutters, and now the newly acquired sharper machine. His craftsmanship extends to creating sandals, bags, wallets, and belts, all crafted from leather.
Apparently, he is also skilling 5 other youths from the same area including a woman and he can confidently produce a catalogue of products thanks to Judith Nahurira Foundation.
“We started humbly using rudimentary tools and methods as the culture with ghetto youths, I got friends and started our an art and craft brotherhood workshop. I started inspiring my brother who lost parents and we live with them in our community,” he explains.
Nakibinge says they accessed the place to make their crafts after speaking to the market administration, the owners of the land where the Art & Craft Brotherhood home is located.
“We got this place after speaking to the market administration, we found the location not good for business because many people here are not our target in the market but we work and vend our shoes ourselves though sometimes we find ourselves on the wrong side of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) enforcement,” he notes.
During this unfortunate situation, it is when Judith Nahurira popularly known as Judith The Bosslady came in the area and intervened in Nakibinge’s situation and received support which led to the support and the situation is taking shape and now he doubles the production.
“Mummy Judith (The Bosslady) found us in a vulnerable state, many of my friends knew I needed help and they came in with a concept to buy for me a machine. The Bosslady gave us a choice to speak on what we can do; she picked and saw the need. We got the machine and we no longer use a lot of energy,” he says.
However, the Art & Craft Brotherhood home still need more support to improve the activities in the place. The Judith Nahurira foundation intervention has also seen the addition of 3 more youths.
“This show we can do more, if there is another opportunity, we need more capital because we have already established potential markets in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Dubai. But our production can not allow us to meet the market demands,” Nakibinge adds.
Like Nakibinge, there were other beneficiaries like Beatrice Nanziri, who deals in barbecue skewers, her only problem was satisfying the ready market in Kalerwe abattoir, she received support from Judith Nahurira Foundation and improved her stock.
She says, life is gradually changing and hopes to upgrade to improved barbecue skewers which are the best for the service and more on demand.
“I started with a small loan which could afford to buy only two bundles, I suffered greatly with loan sharks asking huge interest rates because they were impatient with me yet the business was not returning as fast as I wanted. However, I received a reasonable capital from the Judith Nahurira foundation and the business is moving on well,” she says.
Nanziri expresses her gratitude to the Judith Nahurira Foundation, foreseeing growth in her business following this significant boost. She eagerly anticipates securing additional capital soon to meet the growing demands of her enterprise.
Similarly, Jovia Nabukalu, another beneficiary, holds a degree in cosmetology and hotel management. Nabukalu previously worked for a friend selling chips and tea in Kalerwe, but she decided to go out on her own after saving up a little money. However, she faced challenges sustaining her business due to limited funds and customers who were slow to settle their bills.
Fortunately, the intervention of the Judith Nahurira Foundation in her community has transformed Nabukalu’s life. Inspire by the newfound opportunities offered by the Judith Nahurira Foundation, she is now thinking about opening a reputable restaurant in the future.
“Many things have changed ever since I received support from the *Judith Nahurira* foundation, when I received the pop corn machine, the consumption and customers have improved though I am still challenged by those who take long to pay or those who don’t pay at all,” Nabukalu points.
However, she still challenged on issues to do with weather because of the humble location her business has to endure.
In February, more than 30 youths and women hailing from Kalerwe-Nsooba in Kawempe Division actively participated in the assessment phase as the organization screened potential beneficiaries for the Ghetto Project initiative.
The Ghetto Project seeks self-employment initiatives and invites potential beneficiaries to propose projects capable of providing sustainable opportunities for others in their community. Specifically targeting Kawempe division, one of the districts comprising Kampala, this initiative aims to uplift youths and women.
The Judith Nahurira Foundation seeks to use this initiative to improve the lives of people living in difficult circumstances, particularly young people and women, by giving them hope through long-lasting projects.
The project, as outlined by assessment officers, aims to pinpoint individuals with diverse start-ups, focusing on empowering youths and women in the community. Among those who participated in the assessment are individuals engaged in various ventures such as food vending, crafting, salon operations, shoe vending, and grocery businesses, among others
