Akonye Kena Self-Sufficiency Project Ltd was established in 2009 to provide young artisans in Uganda a venue to sell their goods and earn a sustainable income.

Akonye Kena arose from the volunteer experiences of its founder, Richard Kennair, in Uganda over the past 8 years. Richard found that while there were many self-sufficiency projects training youth in a ‘sellable skill’, the success of these projects varied.

With limited development funds, training projects often focus specifically on skills, as opposed to providing a holistic approach including life skills and home-based business management skills. Quite commonly, there are limited opportunities for the trainees after graduation, and there are not the funds to provide equipment or support for trainees to set up a home-based business.

Many times, well-intended projects have to focus on fund-raising more than skills development. In times of dwindling aid, a drop in tourism, and an ever-increasing number of projects vying for the same market-dollar, many projects simply cannot survive.

The challenge to be met was how can we provide an outlet for these well-intended projects so that they can truly be self-sufficient and not reliant on aid. The result was Akonye Kena.

Meaning I will help myself in Acholi, a tribal language in northern Uganda, Akonye Kena is a program that works with community-based self-sufficiency projects. We partner with local groups who train youth and young adults in sellable skills, purchasing their product in bulk to provide the groups with the operational funds they need to not only survive, but thrive.

Akonye Kena works with our project partners to help them develop their programs from a specific skills-based training program to the adoption of a more holistic approach. Our goal is that each project partner not only trains their students in the skill, but also in such topics as: life skills, home-based business management, and, health and welfare.

Through our partnership with the Kennair Educational Foundation we are establishing an education fund so that the children of our project partners need not fear where they will find the funds for their education.

Our goal is that as Akonye Kena grows, so do our project partners. As students graduate, they will be in a position to continue providing product to supplement their incomes.

In addition to purchasing product at fair market value, a percentage of sales is earmarked for partner development. Further, all profits are donated to the Kennair Educational Foundation to further that organizations activities.

As Akonye Kena grows, we will form additional partnerships and bring more diverse products to the site. Please remember to sign up for our newsletter to get artisan profiles and notification of new products.

Please note that all prices are in USD and reflect item price, applicable sales taxes (if any) and shipping anywhere in Canada or the US. Customs and brokerage fees, if any, are the responsibility of the buyer. We will gladly ship internationally and international shipping rates will be added to your invoice at checkout.