By THE INDEPENDENT UG
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | On February 9, a total of 99 women entrepreneurs hailing from Kampala, Lira, and Fort Portal successfully graduated from the 7th cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program.
This noteworthy accomplishment, supported by the U.S. Embassy in collaboration with the SHONA Group, underscores a collective commitment to advancing women’s empowerment in the fields of education, agribusiness, healthcare, and tourism, as stated by experts.
The AWE Program, an initiative of the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and facilitated by the U.S. Embassy, is executed in partnership with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and the global copper mining company Freeport-McMoRan. Its objective is to equip women entrepreneurs with the necessary resources, knowledge, and networks to initiate and expand their businesses.
Participants in the program gained insights from U.S. business development models and are now eligible for grant funding opportunities from the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and business loans ranging from Shs3.5 million to Shs35 million through SHONA Capital.
The graduates also become part of the esteemed network of U.S. government exchange program alumni, broadening their access to global opportunities and networks, as noted by Ellen Masi, the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Counsellor.
Masi expressed, “I am inspired by the Uganda women entrepreneurs who are also AWE alumni. As the Embassy, we encourage the alumni to organize themselves and create opportunities so that we can support them beyond the training and the Dream Builder program.”
Joachim Ewechu, SHONA Group co-founder and CEO, reflected on the program’s success, stating, “By investing in their growth, we are contributing to the economic development of Uganda while impacting livelihoods in our communities. Our commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs remains steadfast, and we look forward to future collaborations with the U.S. Embassy in Uganda.”
SHONA brings over 10 years of experience in supporting entrepreneurs to cultivate Good Businesses in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda, and beyond.
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