Judith Nahurira Foundations Begins Assessment for Ghetto Beneficiaries
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 Judith Nahurira Foundation is leading this initiative, which aims to improve the lives of people living in difficult circumstances, particularly young people and women, by giving them hope through long-lasting projects.
Renowned Ugandan musician Ssebunya Alfa, also known as Mudra, has joined forces with the Judith Nahurira Foundation to elevate the living standards of the community. Under the banner of the “Ghetto Project,” Mudra and the foundation have identified several youths and women to benefit from the initiative, which commenced in late January this year.
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.
“Most of them have small businesses and are knowledgeable,, but they are unstable but already operating. Others have locations, and it is something we are looking at most. They need support and capacity-building,” said Sam Kayiwa, one of the assessors.
Mukasa Annet,, a food vendor in Kalerwe,, says she wishes to improve her business in catering and attract more customers.
“If I get capital and purchase things like warmers and plates,, I can do better in catering and employ more people in this business,” she points out out.
Deerick Nakibinge, who owns a craft shoe shop,, thinks he can help many youths and train them on how to to make craft shoes,, which is a sustainable job.
“Anyone can bring a child to learn how to make shoes. This workshop is open to all. We need to rent a better place and buy more machines,, though marketing is still the biggest problem. This workshop has been established for the last 10 years and employs about 5 people now. We only do vending,” he said
Mabonga Rudroph,, commonly known as Pele, the project coordinator, explained that most of the ladies come from a busy community and can easily thrive when this project starts.
Judith Nahurira,, the founder of the Judith Nahurira Foundation,, highlights that the organization is going to invite professional people to empower them all with training in bookkeeping, financial literacy,, and business intelligence.
“We still think about fifteen to twenty beneficiaries,, but we shall see if we can add more. We will come up with ideas and share financial literacy programs to grow their businesses; we need to focus more on the youths to develop, and we facilitate all the projects in the same line,” she said.
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 area is marked by prevalent poverty, violence, early pregnancies leading to single motherhood, high rates of school dropouts, rampant drug abuse, prostitution, and widespread gambling. The project endeavors to address these challenges and empower the community through viable self-employment ventures.
