Uganda Update - January, 2007

Peter and I have just returned from our trip to Africa with our team. To say that our trip exceeded all expectations would be an understatement. I have always known that consistency brings rewards but was not prepared for the amazing transformation which has occurred among the women of Uganda who have received training over the last six years.

On this trip it was abundantly evident that the five year commitment World Impact Network gave the women of Uganda, although difficult at times, has reaped enormous rewards. In years gone by a number of issues have plagued the pace at which I would have liked to see us move forward. Things like helping African women see the importance of imparting what they have learned to help others has always been an issue. However understanding Maslow's Theory of human needs helped me realize the desperation of those living without the very basic human needs. The primary motivating factor for the women of Uganda was their family's survival, which is understandable when you are living hand to mouth every day. Learning a skill that helped them finally generate income was not something they were immediately willing share with others who might compete with their only revenue source.

However, now firmly settled as small business owners, with a raised standard of living and status in the community, these women have not only changed in physical appearance but in the understanding of their position as 'community role models.' They are now all training others as well as the new employees they are now able to hire. As if that is not enough many of them are traveling to the rural villages where poverty is deeply entrenched in the lives of most women and sharing the skills they have gained in order to in turn also help these women out of poverty.

On the second night of our visit, the new business owners asked to have dinner with us to share what had transpired in their lives. At their invitation we then spent Friday afternoon visiting their businesses where they proudly showed us what they had accomplished as a result of the inspiration received from the World Impact Network's teams over a five year period.

Event coordinating, cake baking, decorating for special events, the hiring out of wedding gowns and equipment, and at times the whole bridal package which includes making up the bride, the sowing of women's clothing, the decorating of venues for special functions, the making of herbal creams and soaps, the knitting of school sweaters, the arrangement of flowers for formal occasions, the making of cards, jewelry, handbags as well as many other things including the set up of boarding schools and orphanages are just some of the things these woman have accomplished with such little effort from us and so much passion and creativity from them. I stand amazed and not a little proud!

These women now have business cards, websites, business plans and one of them even advertises on the radio - WOW! I get back to the two most important ingredients that are the success of any endeavor in Africa. 'Vision and hope' - they are the two motivating factors in getting woman to realize their potential.

These two things can be shared by anyone with a vision. It is a time investment.

How many of us in the developing world would not be better at what we did if we had someone who believed in us? World Impact Network's greatest gift is the ability to communicate its confidence in others. This has not only impacted those we serve in the developing world but we have seen it impact the volunteer team members we have brought with us to Africa over the last number of years. Many have had the desire to serve and yet often felt they had no skill they could share. Telling them I believed in them made all the difference in the impact they have had on the foreign field. May God bless all of them and the investment they have made over many years. This trip proved that it has all been worth the effort.

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