At Akonye Kena our goal is quite simply to foster independent entrepreneurial spirit by offering crafts-oriented self-sufficiency groups in Uganda a venue to sell their goods. While simple enough to write, it’s not so simple to implement.

The only thing common to all of our project partners is that they are focused on youth and/or young adults. Each group has different needs and challenges that must be addressed in order for the partnership to succeed. From groups that focus on 12-step programs, to groups that work with youth in an area that has been terrorized by rebels since the mid-1980s, our partners are as diverse as our paper beads.

While we work out specific goals for each partnership, there are goals common to all:

  • Administrative Development
    • One of the reasons many projects must rely on craft sales is that their administration, while having the best intention, do not have the administrative skills to access grants. One of the first goals with any partnership is to work with the administrators to design and implement effective accountability and reporting systems. Our goal is to bring the administration of our projects to a level where they can access funding from other sources and not be wholly reliant on us.
  • Quality Control
    • One of the greatest challenges we face is quality control. We want to maintain high standards, and we work with our project partners to meet those standards.
  • Quality of Instruction
    • Our goal is that each project partner adopts a holistic approach to their training methods. Traditionally, skills training has focused on the technical skills, our goal is to help each partner integrate life skills, business management, health education, and other training into their programs.
  • Post-Training Support
    • Our goal is to mentor trainees for up to 5 years after their training, and provide them opportunities to supplement their incomes by selling their products to us. In addition, our goal is to provide graduates with the tools and equipment necessary to set up their own home-based business and to allow them to pay that back with product over time.
  • Health Care
    • In a developing country with ineffective universal health care systems people often do not seek treatment when they are sick until the illness becomes difficult to treat, simply because they can’t afford medical treatment. Our goal is to provide our projects with both access to medical care, and access to preventive care (such as distributing mosquito nets).
  • Child Education Support
    • In countries such as Uganda educating your child is often one of the greatest economic challenges in a family. Our goal is to establish an education fund so that children get the support to thrive in a school environment.
  • Fair Trade
    • Fair trade is a standard by which an organization is externally certified so that its customers are ensured that its actions, and the actions of its partners, treat all participants fairly. From offering support, to ensuring that wages exceed poverty standards, a fair trade certification is a goal that we believe every group should aspire to. Our goal is that Akonye Kena achieves Fair Trade certification by 2011.

Unfortunately, there are costs involved with offering this type of holistic training which simply cannot be covered through sales. We need your help. If you are able to donate, either one time, or by signing up for monthly donations, it would be enormously appreciated.

On behalf of our project partners and their trainees, we thank you for your support.