Meet Margret, a 29-year-old aspiring farmer and a proud resident of Lookoro village, Lokwakeal Sub County, Kotido District. She is an active member of the Gender youth group, which was formed and motivated by a dedicated youth champion to understand the significance of saving. With the support of the Young Africa Works project, the Gender youth group, including Margret, received guidance to develop a group constitution, a comprehensive business plan, and official legal recognition.

Before Young Africa Works in Uganda, Markets for the Youths, Margret struggled with focus and financial management. She found it challenging to save and lacked concrete business ideas. However, after being sensitized by the Young Africa Works staff about the importance of agriculture, saving, and credit activities, Margret’s life took a transformative turn.

Her attitude towards saving changed drastically, and she now saves an impressive UGX 40,000 every week with a clear purpose in mind. Additionally, she can borrow an average of UGX 1,000,000 to invest in her farming ventures. Her dedication to onion cultivation has paid off, earning her a substantial weekly income of UGX 80,000, and she is eagerly anticipating the upcoming harvest of her eggplants. Moreover, she wisely invested part of the borrowed money to prepare land for other crops, including 2 acres of Millet and 5 acres of sorghum, with the expectation of significant returns amounting to 2 million and 3 million shillings, respectively.

Margret’s success story doesn’t end there. She has demonstrated commendable financial discipline by diligently repaying her loan, as agreed with her group, using earnings from her thriving onion business.

In the face of adversity, when famine struck her community, Margret didn’t just focus on her own success. She extended her support to her peers by encouraging them to embrace horticulture as a viable business option. Her selflessness and willingness to share knowledge and opportunities with others showcase the true spirit of community upliftment.

Looking into the future, Margret has ambitious plans. She envisions building her commercial house after sharing out at the end of the cycle and successfully harvesting and selling her crops. With the foundation laid by Young Africa Works and the ongoing support from MUCOBADI, GOAL Uganda, and the Mastercard Foundation, Margret’s dreams are well within her reach.

Margret’s heartfelt gratitude goes out to the Mastercard Foundation for Young Africa Works, GOAL Uganda, and MUCOBADI for implementing this life-changing program. Their unwavering dedication to empowering youth like her has not only transformed Margret’s life but also ignited a ripple effect of positive change throughout her community.

Through the Young Africa Works project, Margret’s inspiring journey exemplifies how investing in the potential of young people can yield remarkable results, creating a brighter and more prosperous future for individuals and their communities alike.