March 2012 Uganda Trip: Day 3

The third day of our trip was extremely fast-paced as we worked to visit graduates of the African Children’s Choir who have started business throughout town.

We started with Alice and Winnie who have partnered on an egg production business in Winnie’s village. The organization was orderly and well-run, and the women’s pride in their progress was plain on their faces as they picked up eggs today. (They have invested significant time in their hens, taking them from hatchlings to mature birds.)

After a conversation with Elvis about his rice import business, we continued our journey with a visit to the IT consulting firm started by Morris and Kenneth. Certified Microsoft technicians, they’re building a business that includes handling customer support tickets for the Austin-based CourseTrends, a partner in Work for Life.

Finally, we made our way out to a far-flung suburb where we explored Harriett’s retail store, featuring a range of quick-serve products, and learned it is hitting its stride after relocating from a different neighborhood.

So, throughout the day, we saw the impact that Work for Life is having in the lives of some very hardworking young people. As a still-new team, we’re looking forward to the next phase: reviewing the business plans submitted by the choir alumni and offering ideas on how to refine them.