November 2010 Trip Update 3

On Thursday the Work for Life team met with each of the 6 applicants who made the “shortlist”. During these meetings, applicants answered questions from all 6 of the men on the Work for Life team. The applicants who made the shortlist included an egg business, a tech-related business, a retail foodstuff business, a nut processing business and two pig rearing businesses. All of the applicants did a great job of explaining their businesses to the team. The team also met with a few other applicants who did not make the shortlist to provide some assistance in developing their plans for the next funding trip. The team met on Thursday night to review notes from the day and make an initial assessment of which applicants will be selected. Each applicant has the opportunity to “pitch” their business one last time on Friday morning using all of the input and guidance they’ve received during the week to polish and hone their plans. After that time, the team will make a final decision and prepare the loan documents for each business. There has been much discussion throughout the week among the Ugandans about the hope that is being provided through Work for Life. Several people have commented that they are encouraged, even if they aren’t selected this time, because they believe that now there’s a way to create a brighter future by starting a business with Work for Life’s assistance.