Women's Empowerment
Helping widows and vulnerable women is the heartbeat of The Vine. Many women are left in dire poverty; struggling to provide food and shelter for their families.
Small Business Loans
Our primary role is teaching women to be self-sustaining and confident in their ability to function within the Ugandan economy and to provide for the needs of their family. We offer small business loans to help women get started on projects they are committed to. These loans are monitored and governed by our staff as we provide encouragement and accountability.
"Some of our women have joined together to buy livestock that can provide sustenance for their families; while others invest in products to sell."
- Richard Mwogereze, Executive Director -
Tailoring Vocational School
The Vine offers a 6 month certified tailoring program. Applicants are selected and trained by our skilled professionals as they learn to make shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, and purses. Once the program is complete students receive a certificate recognized by the government and they're ready to enter the workforce as a seamstress.
Functional Adult Literacy
Most women in the villages can not read or write, and use a thumbprint to represent their names. The Vine takes a literacy curriculum into the villages and teaches women how to read, write, and perform basic math facts. A final exam is given at the end of the course and women leave the program as functionally literate adults.
Agriculture and Livestock Projects
Women in the villages work together to rear livestock such as pigs, cows, chickens and goats. These animals are raised and bred, and then sold in the market for profit. The goats provide milk and the chickens provide nutritious eggs. One of the villages planted a banana tree plantation and is raising over 75 banana trees. These trees provide an income for the women as they sell the fruit at market, and keep some to sustain their families.
The Vine Collective
In 2019, The Vine launched a new line of handmade purses and necklaces. Crafted by women in Kamuli, the purses are beautifully woven from banana fiber and dyed palm leaves. The necklaces are paper beads of various colors and shapes, each reflecting a work of art. A leather attachment, tassel or stone is attached to the necklaces, and each purse has a tassel or leather attachment on the zipper--making each item a true conversation piece. The Vine Collective items are sold in certain boutiques in the United States.
$1/day is the average wage in Uganda. Most women in Uganda don’t make a livable wage to provide for their families. Support a widow/vulnerable woman for an entire month or year.