I want my children to be literate

Due to the many financial challenges faced by his family, Rashid was unable to go to school. He has however engaged in a number of productive activities that have helped him become a successful business man in the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Uganda.

As a host national, he has dedicated his services to reach the ever-growing number of vulnerable refugees in Uganda. Rashid remains passionate and very enthusiastic about receiving an education and hopes that one day, he will be able to go back to school.

Raised from a humble background, Rashid was not able to attain education and this has motivated him to work hard to ensure that all his children get good quality education. He says he can’t afford the children going through the murky challenges of illiteracy. 

Customers at Rashid's retail shop

When COVID-19 hit, his business suffered many challenges that forced him to look for alternative sources of capital to boost his earnings. It is at this time that he joined a savings group of 30 members, through which he later became a VisionFund Uganda borrower. The group’s first loan was a total of UGX 4,000,000 (approx. USD 1,072) which they have paid back very well and are closing in December. The group now aims to take a total of UGX 6,000,000 in the next cycle to enable members grow their businesses even further.

Rashid is a farmer with a cassava plantation of seven acres. He cites climate challenges as one of the key reasons why his farm had not yielded a very good harvest this season. He plans to take an agriculture loan to boost his farming in the forthcoming season. He anticipates to earn about UGX 30,000,000 (approx. USD 7,894) from the current crop.

Besides running a retail shop, he is also engaged in a charcoal selling business that diversifies his incomes in the settlement. He wants to opt for an individual loan in the next cycle to enable him have increase capital to invest in his streams of income. His children are currently in boarding school, and he has been able to pay for them from his improved income.

Story by: Francis Kizito, VisionFund Uganda