Orphans of Teso has officially launched the 2020 Change Their Story campaign to raise money for new projects at our CarePoints in Uganda.
The Change Their Story campaign is focused on empowerment and increasing the income levels of the families in our program at a household level. Uganda has an agriculture-based economy and we’ve learned that the best way to make an impact is by providing them with livestock.
This year we are focused on the following initiatives that will empower and provide dignity to the families in our program:
- Provide female pigs to 330 families so they can create an income for themselves and start providing for their own families.
- Provide sheep to 160 students to raise and sell.
- Start a Village Savings and Loan program (VSLA) so families can start businesses and generate income.
Why Pigs and Sheep?
The goal of this campaign is to increase household incomes and asset bases. The majority of the families in the district earn a livelihood from either growing crops or raising livestock. Most household heads spend their time and energy finding food for their families and not as much as time on other needs, such as education, health and clothing. The 2020 Change Their Story campaign initiatives are designed to help with both raising household incomes and helping families meet basic needs.
Sheep Project
Each child will receive a sheep to rear and multiply. First-born sheep will be donated back to the CarePoints. Firstborn male sheep will be sold by the CarePoints and firstborn female sheep will be gifted to other children in need in the community.
Pig Project
Each family will receive a female pig and several pigs for breeding. After the first litters are born, families will keep one piglet and donate the rest back to the CarePoints. They will distribute the female pigs to other families in need and sell the male piglets.
What is the VSLA program?
This microfinancing endeavor is designed to increase household income and set community members on the path to financial independence.
Participating members will be trained on small business management, entrepreneurship, saving and financial planning. Members will then make weekly deposits into their VSLA program where the money will be pooled and held in a secure lockbox. Each week, the VSLA members will meet as a group to make deposits and members seeking loans can present proposals to the committee.
Loans can be used to start businesses, pay for education, improve buildings, or to fund another community project. Members are charged 10% in interest and when the loans are repaid, the interest goes into the VSLA account to be paid out as profit to all members, based on their percentage of savings over the year.
How to Get Involved in the ‘Change Their Story’ Campaign
Our goal this year is to raise $30,000 to fund the piggery and sheep programs, as well as the VSLA program. If you are able to and want to help us reach our goal, we would appreciate your donations and help to spread the word.
Donate
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help us reach our goal. Pigs are $50 each and sheep are $45 each. Donations can be made at www.orphansoftesocts.com.
Share on Social Media
Consider sharing our campaign on social media with your friends and family. You can follow Orphans of Teso on Facebook and share updates directly from our page. We appreciate the help spread awareness of our campaign!
Special thanks to our community of local sponsors who are making it possible to provide pigs and sheep to the children in our program.
Looking for more information about Orphans of Teso and the annual Change Their Story campaign? Go to wwww.orphansofteso.com/change-their-story to learn more!
For the past 10 years, Orphans of Teso has partnered with Children’s HopeChest to provide care and support to more than 650 orphaned and vulnerable children in the Teso region of Uganda through a program of local community empowerment and long-term sustainable development. Our goal is to help these communities care for these children and pull them out of the cycle of poverty. For more information, go to www.orphansofteso.com/change-their-story.