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.
"Some of our women have joined together to buy livestock that can provide sustenance for their families; while others invest in products to sell."
- Gari Meacham, President -
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.
Functional Adult Literacy
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.
Savings and Loan Groups
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.
Tailoring Vocational School
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.
