“If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime!”

 ~ Unknown

Poverty is the state of not having enough material possessions or income for a person’s basic needs. According to Habitat for Humanity, absolute poverty or extreme poverty is when a household income is below a certain level necessary to meet basic personal needs such as food, clothing, and shelter (Relative vs. Absolute Poverty, 2017). Economic factors such as high inflation, unemployment, and low economic growth delineate poverty experienced by more than 20 percent of Ugandans (Luballe, 2019). These factors are significant limitations that inhibit the ability to uplift out of poverty. We believe one way to help people overcome the economic factors that lead to poverty is through entrepreneurship.

Starting a business has its risks; however, it can be very lucrative and secure a financial future for a family with the right resources and training. Many Ugandans were impacted by the Covid 19 pandemic and continure to struggle to make ends meet. Through our programs, we can give them a helping hand and provide support where needed. However, the need extends beyond a handout. The programs are designed to promote self-sustainability and are organized to transition an individual or family from needing support to self-sufficiency over time.

 Ugandans who come to Gateway 2 Missions experience change. In 2020, we trained hundreds of men and women eager to start a business through our Empowerment Summit. Abel Odeke, a volunteer of Gateway 2 Missions, traveled to several villages training people of all ages to make soaps, Vaseline, and shampoo. When the Summit was complete, each student received a starter kit packed with supplies and ingredients needed to make the products independently. The Summit propelled them into business—equipping them with the knowledge and skills to build, source, and sustain their business. At the same time, we were encouraging a generation of people to overcome their circumstances through entrepreneurship. 

Extreme poverty will take extreme measures to alleviate, and we are up for the task.  Our mission to help those suffering from extreme poverty will remain our goal. Through entrepreneurship, Ugandans can begin to see their way out of hardship. The goal is self-sustainability and independence. Our programs and projects were designed to support that mission. We are chipping away at the economic factors affecting Ugandans, one family, one individual at a time.

References

Luballe, G. (2019, 09 19). Poverty in Uganda: Causes and Strategies for Reduction with Great Emphasis on Ethics and Ecological Justice. Sociology and Anthropology 7(1), p. 11. Retrieved from https://www.hrpub.org/download/20181230/SA2-19611985.pdf

Relative vs Absolute Poverty. (2017). Retrieved from Habitat for Humanity Great Britain: https://www.amazon.com/Fuxury-Envelopes-Durability-Multipurpose-Protected/dp/B08DCYD7ZR/ref=sr_1_42?crid=3DI7OYRD3AZ4H&dchild=1&keywords=purple+mailers&qid=1617741986&sprefix=purple+mailer%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-42