Nviwoda Entrepreneur members listen attentively to the proceedings of the AGM meeting on 11^th Dec 2004

Ntulume Village Women’s Development Association (NVIWODA) is a women grassroots Non-Governmental Organization.  Established in 1987 by a group of women. NVIWODA has really changed the lives of Ugandan Women for the better as many of them testify.  The Association has seen it all and is growing steadily; slowly by slowly setting up branches in various parts of the country, achieving its set objectives especially empowering women through equipping them with skills economically / technically and offering them with Micro-Credit support.

11^th December 2004 NVIWODA held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in which the member entrepreneurs had a review of what had transpired in the organization throughout the year of 2003.

In her brief welcome message the Chairperson Ms. Margaret Tinka explained the purpose of the meeting, which she also said, coincided with the Re-Union Day.  Since NVIWODA entrepreneurs and members from the various parts of the country had assembled to share experiences and to learn more from NVIWODA.

The AGM meeting was different from the traditional ones, as this time round it focused more on creation of awareness on use of ICT’s (Information and Communication Technologies) among the women and to promote and facilitate the advancement of their human rights.

Facilitators of the day came from different organizations namely, Kompyuta Africa, Women of Uganda Net Work (WOUGNET) and Ntulume village Women Development Association (NVIWODA).

Mr. Mugabi Ivan of Kompyuta Africa – Information Officer, informed the participants that over the Internet, with facilities of Credit Card Schemes, Websites, E-mails and Internet connectivity one could conduct business without necessarily moving from one place to another.  Women were encouraged to go into International or Regional Trade.

This could only be achieved if they are Computer literate and if knowledge is enhanced in order to capture the global market.  In addition, he said computers are globally used in various sectors of life including E-Business and E-Commerce whether big or small.

Ms. Cissy Nyarwa -the Programme Coordinator of NVIWODA was one of the facilitators, who introduced the use of Internet and E-mail Messaging to the women for purposes of acquiring knowledge on information exchange and sharing of experiences.  She emphasized to the women to get acquainted

with use of e- mail for effective communication.

Women were further informed that with Internet, Small Businesses could be improved with application of E-Business and E-Commerce. 

The training was conducted through participatory approach and demonstrations were carried out using Laptops from both organizations.

The frequently asked question by the women was that, how could women of their educational background adopt the application of computers.  Ms. Nyarwa promised that if women are trained in an environmentally friendly sessions, they would freely adopt use of computers and she further encouraged them not only to acquire knowledge but to continue practicing as this is the only way to master the application of computer in their lives.

 At the end of the Session various Websites were visited and these included, NVIWODA Website, Yahoo Home Page, K2 Crafts Kangra to Crafts, Micro skills Home Page for community Programme services. At the end of it all   the women realized the richness of Internet.

In the same vein, Ms. Zam Zam Nassazi Mayanja- Information Officer, with Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), demonstrated to the entrepreneur’s how information can be received through accessing the electronic Newsletters, Indexes and Directories. 

A Satellite Radio was too demonstrated to the women in order to access the all In the same vein, Ms. Zam Zam Nassazi Mayanja- Information Officer, with Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET), demonstrated to the entrepreneur’s how information can be received through accessing the electronic Newsletters, Indexes and Directories. 

Participants as to how they can use Information and Communication Technologies to enable them access information in absence of Internet.

Members appreciated the awareness sessions and briefings, and noted the challenges before them. They therefore pledged to work harder so as to eliminate all odds, in order to live in this dynamic world. 

It was emphasized that knowledge is power and that with women developing capacity to utilize the ICT’s, they would gradually eradicate poverty and also will build their self-confidence for advancement of societies.

Ms. Nyarwa- Programme Coordinator (NVIWODA) demonstrating to the participants on how ICT can be enhanced to expand Small Business and to foster effective communication.

As an Evaluation of Entrepreneurship Programmes, entrepreneurs spoke for themselves testifying, as to how they have tremendously benefited from NVIWODA Entrepreneurship and Career Development training programmes.

Among them were the following:

 Mrs. Zaitun Khaleel comes from Bombo in Luweero District

She is a teacher by profession, Tailor and Poultry Farmer with 1,000 Broilers.  She said that through NVIWODA developing her self- confidence, she has been able to plant a Yellow Sweet Potatoes species, from which she extracts Juice that has high vitamin value, and she also bakes cakes out of Potatoes flour. 

The Knowledge acquired from NVIWODA has also strengthened her capacity to go out and train other women in her area.  The income, generated from her projects has been able to support her children’s education up to the University

Mrs. Sauda Kavuma- Chairperson of Kyerima Mbirontono Women’s Group of Butambala, has also very good words for NVIWODA, she excitedly said, “With a Grant from NVIWODA”, the group was able to expand its Poultry Project.” 

The group also received a loan of Ug. Shs. 1,000,000/=Equiv. of US. $ 579 and training from NVIWODA, her group is now expanding the project to six Hundred (600) layers.  Improved indigenous Hens have also increased their output.

Ms. Theresa Nazziwa took up, Poultry farming, after retiring from the active office service. Theresa before retirement underwent, a Three Weeks NVIWODA entrepreneurship course and after a field visit exposure to small business woman entrepreneur, who had 6,000 birds, she was motivated to open up a Poultry enterprise with 1,000 Layers.

Theresa, revealed that, after the day’s exposure to the ICT’s, and after having learnt that the, Worlds biggest poultry farmer in China sells 3.1 billion Turkeys per year, she was motivated to expand her poultry farm and also saw the necessity of application of a Computer to her Enterprise, which she intends to acquire as soon as finances allow.

Ms. Namukasa was all praises for NVIWODA and thanked the organization for making her what she is to day.  She called on fellow women to actively participate and fully benefit from NVIWODA human capacity development activities.  She also encouraged women to do viable businesses to enable them cater for their children’s education.

Ms. Namukasa one of the beneficiaries testifying to fellow entrepreneurs how NVIWODA built her self confidence at the same time appealed to fellow women, out there who have not yet joined women groups, to come out and join, as it is the only solution to women emancipation. On her right is the Programme Coordinator of NVIWODA (Ms. Nyarwa).

Jessica Mugalula, encouraged women to learn to save and to keep their Enterprises Books of Accounts. She revealed that she had run her bakery for a long time without keeping books of accounts for her business, of which performance she could not easily identify. 

After continuous reminders and guidance from NVIWODA to adopt the system, Jessica was able to see the difference in her business, and has now been able to acquire equipments for her project, she has increased her production, unlike before when she would run it manually, Jessica to-day Bakes 2000-4000 cakes per day.  From the proceeds of her enterprise, she testified, she has also acquired a vehicle to market her products, and a sweater-knitting machine he has high hope of expansion of her market.

She appreciated NVIWODA’s support commitment and continued encouragement to economically empower women.

Sixty-year-old Nyamaguru Harriet, said before joining NVIWODA, she was illiterate; she could neither write nor read.  She pioneered in NVIWODA adult classes. She can now read and write her name, can also write a simple letter to her relatives and fellow women. Harriet owns a retail shop and she makes floor mats made from recycled drinking straws. Which she collects from bars and shops.  She sells a mat at Ug. Shs. 20,000/- equivalent to US. $ 11.  Harriet says her family status has been improved and takes care of her grandchildren as well.

Deborah Ddungu had fears that she has failed to find an organization in her area, where she can join as a member.  Deborah now lives far away from NVIWODA but she makes sure to turn up for training and meetings whenever she is called upon.  She is a Poultry farmer rearing a 1,000 layers, a skill she acquired after visiting Ms. Nyarwa during the 1990’s.

Deborah boasts of her determination to work hard and indeed she has contributed to her family. They now own, a Zero Graze, she planted sufficient food and fruits and owns a grocery.  She sells the Avocados and Mangoes, which has added to her income, as her area has scarcity of fruits. She concluded by saying that coming together and learning from each other is a tool and an opportunity to women’s empowerment.

Martha Atim comes from Luweero. She is a member of Reach Out to the Wives of the Soldiers, a group member grantee of NVIWODA; she praised women that belong to organizations, as it creates opportunity for women to learn from each other.  Martha says from the skills acquired, she can now make Tie and Dye on orders from her Church and other neighbouring areas.

She excitedly said, that she feels happy when she can maintain her family of Twelve (12) people.

From her business of tie and dye the family has been able to acquire land and is now constructing a house.

The Guest of Honor the Deputy RDC Rubaga – Kampala, was taken through the history of NVIWODA and it’s achievements. The women exhibited some of their products, which included baked products such as cakes and cookies.  They also displayed other items such as Fruit concentrates; Jam and Mats made out of re-cycled drinking straws, together with hand made necklaces and other beadwork. 

Guest of Honour viewing NVIWODA entrepreneur’s products exhibited during the Re-Union Day.

 In his remarks he said, he was impressed by the work so well done by NVIWODA and requested more women to have a vision and continue to be focused, so that they are economically empowered. 

The Guest of Honor Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Lubaga- Kampala the participants at the closure of AGM and Entrepreneurs Reunion Day (AGMER) on 11^th December 2004.

Mr. Bamwine hailed Ms. Nyarwa for being a great leader, who is well focused, dedicated and committed towards development of the grassroots women.

He called upon the women to emulate her leadership qualities and remain focused. Once the society at the grassroots is empowered, then women emancipation would have been full filled.

Without entrepreneurship development being conducted by NVIWODA, women economic empowerment would be a dream he concluded.

NVIWODA works closely with different Community Based Organizations (CBO’s) to which the organization provided Grants to improve on their projects.