Releasing the Talents of the Poor in Uganda with Microcredit

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Executive Summary
Five Talents Uganda, a new Anglican microfinance institution, officially opened its doors to the community in June 2006. An exciting expansion of Five Talents International, this organization seeks to assist thousands of poor entrepreneurs using a combination of micro-loans, business training and spiritual development.

Five Talents has been working in Uganda since 2001 in partnership with the Church of Uganda (Anglican). Three microfinance programs have been established in Kabale, Kasese and Kampala. The Church of Uganda, in collaboration with Five Talents, decided to consolidate these three programs under one legal organization, creating an efficient delivery system for financial services to the poor. The new office will serve as the primary point of contact for all work undertaken by FTI in Uganda, including short-term trips for business professionals to conduct seminars for the clients.

Under the new structure, Five Talents Uganda is able to expand effectively into other parts of the country. This expansion has been the largest single undertaking Five Talents International has taken on during its history.

Click here to read a program update.

Click here to view a 9-minute Five Talents Uganda video!

Click here to read the blog of Simon Lee, a Five Talents UK volunteer, who worked with Five Talents Uganda in microenterprise development in 2007-08.

Funding Opportunities

Services offered by Five Talents Uganda

Loan Capital: Credit facilities for individuals, reinforced by training groups of five to 10 people, to help grassroots entrepreneurs start or expand their own small businesses.

Business Training: Business training, using on-the-ground techniques suited to loan recipients who may or may not be literate, will cover credit management, group leadership, wise investment, and project management.

Microenterprise Consulting: Support, often provided in partnership with community-based organizations, designed to strengthen new and existing microenterprise programs.Note: 10 percent of gifts will be kept by Five Talents International for much needed support costs.

Biblically-Based Economic and Spiritual Development: Micro-credit loans and business training in a setting that provides a Christian context and encouragement, available through a diocesan- and church-based network of services.

Although Five Talents Uganda will be one legal entity, each branch office will need support until it becomes self-supporting. Five Talents is offering the opportunity for a donor or group of donors to designate funds for a specific branch office or to help with costs of establishing the infrastructure for the expanded program.

Five Talents Uganda Office - $25,000

A staff of three will be headquartered in Kampala and will oversee the three branch offices and market program services to other dioceses. Funding will primarily be allocated for salaries, transportation, rent and other administrative expenses.

Diocese of South Rwenzori branch - $25,000

Funding for loan capital

Based in the town of Kasese, near the Congo border.

Diocese of Kigezi branch - $25,000

Funding for loan capital

Based in the town of Kabale, near the Rwanda border.

Diocese of Namirembe branch - $25,000

Funding for loan capital

Based near Kampala.