Parents’ Junior School Social Enterprises
Grain mill, est. 2023
This business serves as the grain mill for surrounding neighborhoods, decreasing the walk for women to other mills. The original land owner, Martin, has donated acreage to the school throughout the last decade so it can grow and support area families, including donating the land for the grain mill. This mill also maximizes profit yields of crops from PJS’s agriculture co-op.
Profit Share: School: 30%, Business: 20%, Community: 30%, Land donor: 20%
apiary, est. 2022
Zone C started an apiary to diversify its income streams. Currently, the community manages 20 active hives where bees are producing honey. Zone C participants sell honey at the market and are experimenting with ways to diversify their bee products, including the sale of propolis, wax, and honey wine.
Profit Share: Community: 30%, Land Donor: 20%, School: 30%, Business: 20%
farming co-op, est 2021
Regenerative agriculture classes hosted by Mwebaza and Butembala Permaculture inspired this 100+ person agriculture co-operative. Community members have grouped themselves into four zones to grow different cash crops and sell the surplus at the market. Mwebaza invested eight oxen and four plows for each zone to use to effectively till the large plots of donated land. Harvesting happens twice a year.
Profit Share: School: 40%, Business: 20%, Community: 40%
St. Paul School Social Enterprises
Dairy Cows, est. 2023
Teacher Tonny manages this agriculture business at St. Paul school. Local community members have opened their pastures for the cows to graze. In the spring of 2024, the one dairy cow we invested in gave birth and they began selling milk. As these cows continue to produce, the business will grow allowing them to expand their dairy business.
Profit Share: Savings: 40%, School: 40%, Managers: 20%
Passion Fruit Orchard, est. 2023
On donated land near the school campus, passion fruit vines were planted from saplings to be harvested for their fruit and seeds, and sold to area families and farmers. Plans to expand include purchasing a juice machine so participants can make and sell passion fruit juice in addition to the raw fruits.
Profit Share: School: 40%, Savings: 40%, Land donor: 10%, Manager: 10%
Artisan Crafts, est. 2021
Madame Sylvia, the headmistress of St. Paul School, along with members of her family and community, handmake jewelry and weavings for Mwebaza to sell in Colorado. This business is low-overhead and has great potential to expand.
Profit Share: School: 40%, Business: 30%, Artists: 20%, Business Manager: 10%
Village Savings and Loan (VSLA), Est. 2021
St. Paul School parents and nearby residents invest their money in a growing VSLA, which is a local micro-lending program organized by the community. Members invest a small sum of money at every weekly meeting. Members can borrow money at a 10% interest rate and repay within 5 months. The VSLA has approximately 40 members and profits are distributed to each member at the end of every year based on the amount they contributed individually. Mwebaza invested 10MM UGX (2,600 USD) in 2023 to increase the group's lending power.
Profit Share: The school earns a percentage share of what Mwebaza invested on their behalf.
Vehicle Rental Service, Est. 2016
St. Paul manages a vehicle rental service with a 14-passenger van. St. Paul works with an experienced project manager to oversee the maintenance of the vehicle. They hired a local, licensed driver who rents the vehicle for 650,000 UGX per week for private hire.
Profit Share: School Operating Cost: 70%, Business Savings: 20%, School Savings: 10%
Mwebaza Annex Social Enterprises
Community Well, est. 2022
The addition of a borehole well in 2022 provided the foundational materials for this business to start. Marione Nawaggi, Mwebaza Annex School Director, manages the sale of water to residents and the teachers do monthly bookkeeping.
Profit Share: Business savings: 80%, School savings: 10%, School operations: 10%
Vehicle Rental Service, est. 2016
Annex manages a taxi business vehicle rental service with a 14-passenger van. Annex works with an experienced project manager to oversee the maintenance of the vehicle. They have hired a local, licensed driver who rents the vehicle for 650,000 UGSX per week for private hire.
Profit Share: School Operations: 50%, School Savings: 30%, Business Savings: 20%