About the Project

Beneficiaries under this project are taken through a craft-making training course over a duration of one month (20 working days), in which they are shown how to make artistic use of locally available materials in their environment. They develop crafts for commercial purposes, including

• mats
• baskets
• tye & dye patterned cloth
• woven materials - wall hangings, door rugs and ornaments
• beads
• cards

At the end of the training process, the beneficiaries are then supported to transform their individual micro-projects into a functional group business. SPAU provides them a start-up capital to boost the cottage industry for one month. After this period, the project is usually in self-sustaining state.

Typical Project Costs

A project benefiting 20 members costs up to UGX 2,500,000 (approx £900) to cover the training costs of the project.

A further cost of UGX 300,000 (approx £100) will then support the establishment of a cottage industry operating under well-established group dynamics.

Project Video

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Case Study

Justine Nakayiwa

Justine "Juss" Nakayiwa is a single parent and resident of Nakulabye, a sprawling semi-urban settlement in Rubaga division. Before she got involved in a SPAU handicraft project, Juss said she would struggle to sustain herself and members of her household on a UGX 2,000 (approximately 80p) daily income that she would raise from her evening market food sales.

Juss is now a beneficiary of the SPAU handicraft training and member of a SPAU group involved, confesses to an increased monthly household income which she attributes to her participation in the craft making initiative. Six months ago, Juss purchased her first mobile phone – an accomplishment she also attributes to benefiting from the craft-making project. Because of her acquisition of a mobile phone, Juss says her business 'now moves much faster'.