In several rural villages of Eastern Uganda, Nicholas Kinyera’s sponsors and donors help provide zero-interest microloans for families to start small businesses. They can use these start-up funds to grow a garden, open a small shop or begin a weaving business. With donor support, many families in Uganda also receive gifts of livestock to provide both nourishing food for their children and to grow their income.

For these families, receiving an animal is like opening and investing in a bank account — it’s a gift that keeps growing. Many families in this program in Uganda now raise goats, chickens, cows or other animals. As these animals grow and multiply, families have eggs, milk, meat, manure and other commodities that they can use to nourish their family and sell as a small business. Giving a gift of livestock is one of the best ways to empower a family to grow stable and self-reliant.

Every family is also invited to become part of a community savings group. Through these groups, families provide advice, support and encouragement to help them overcome the common problems they face. Our staff and partners provide training and coaching in financial literacy. Families are also encouraged to save and contribute to a community savings fund — a fund that can be borrowed from at zero interest to help expand their business, or when illness or another unforeseen expense arises.