Small Business Mentor for Women

location
4 - 50 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Give hope to the poor women and families everyday
  • Empower vulnerable women and their families towards self sufficiency
  • Experience really life while working with the women
  • Embark on a life changing journey that will bring a difference in your life and that of the community
  • Gain an indepth experience in the Pearl of Afica-Uganda


Especially good for

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Families
50+

About the program

Work with the women running small businesses. You will be required support the women with business skills and tools to grow and sustain their businesses.

About the Program

SustainMe  works with women who run small businesses every day. Through our microfinance and women empowerment program, the women receive small startup loans and business skills to further their small businesses. The small businesses include retail shops, grocery, bakery, farming, ...

About the program

About the Program

SustainMe  works with women who run small businesses every day. Through our microfinance and women empowerment program, the women receive small startup loans and business skills to further their small businesses. The small businesses include retail shops, grocery, bakery, farming, brick laying, restaurant among others.

Small business Mentors/Trainer is very instrumental in this program as he/she strikes a balance to ensure the continuity of the businesses, women and their families. The volunteer therefore works with the women on their businesses and offers  support.

Tasks for the Volunteer:

  • Work with the women to design cash flow for their businesses:  This involves supporting each woman with a small business and on the microfinance program to have a cash flow sheet.
  • Provide business and entrepreneurship training to the vulnerable women: offer your time and experience to provide business training and skills to the women. Here you will be meeting with groups of women and individuals, and teach them basic business skills that support them in the management of their small businesses.
  • Business assessments for women business: This involves carrying out assessing the small businesses owned by the women before they receive any small loans
  • Business visits: this involves carrying out visits to business locations and premises. When a business is visited, you check out on issues such as how merchandise is arranged, the business records, observe how customers move in and all in all support the woman who runs the business.
  • One on One Mentorship: the women running small businesses need more than just telling them what to do but someone they can rely on for more information. One on One Mentorship involves providing time to each individual woman, listen to them and provide advice much of which is business knowledge, saving knowledge, family planning, education, health among others.  During the 1O1 mentorship, it is an opportunity for the women to learn and acquire knowledge in diverse field though business and livelihood is given priority.



Typical day

Sustain Me offers a flexible work schedule for the Volunteers.

Our workday typically starts at 9:00am when every staff and volunteer is expected to be at the office. Every Monday morning we have a meeting to review our previous work and also look at the way forward. 

Our workday runs from 9:00am to ...

Typical day

Sustain Me offers a flexible work schedule for the Volunteers.

Our workday typically starts at 9:00am when every staff and volunteer is expected to be at the office. Every Monday morning we have a meeting to review our previous work and also look at the way forward. 

Our workday runs from 9:00am to 4:00 pm. All the field activities are planned in advance and transportation done accordingly. However, on days where we have field activities, the work may extend beyond the departure time 4:00pm


Free-time activities

Uganda, the Pearl of Africa"  is filled and endowed with a lot of interesting activities that you can participate in during your Free time, Let us explore them below:

Visit the Source of the Nile. During your free time, you will have an opportunity to visit the Source of River Nile. The Nile river ...

Free-time activities

Uganda, the Pearl of Africa"  is filled and endowed with a lot of interesting activities that you can participate in during your Free time, Let us explore them below:

Visit the Source of the Nile. During your free time, you will have an opportunity to visit the Source of River Nile. The Nile river is the longest river in the world at 4,135 miles (6,650 kilometers). Our organization is located the River, so it is a beautiful activity out.

White Water Rafting: White water rafting is an activity carried out on River Nile. During your free time you can enjoy while water rafting and enjoy the breeze and the water falls.

Bike Riding: Taking a bike ride around the community and the town of Jinja is much relaxing

Cultural dance: Uganda is blessed with diverse cultures, while here you can have the time to participate in the different cultural dances and also attend some concerts where the dances are carried out.

Craft Shopping: Jinja, the town where we are located has a lot of shops selling African crafts. A free time can be spend by shopping and touring the several shops and enjoy the African culture through crafts.

Tour some of the Largest Forests: Spend time touring forests around Jinja, Uganda.

Visit National Parks: Uganda is blessed with numerous national parks with beautiful animals and birds. You get the opportunity to do bird watching, animals and reptiles.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Education Requirements

Economics, Business, Microfinance, Math at University, College level

Criminal Background Check

required

Required Documents

CV

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

Community development Online Marketing

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 09:00 - 15:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by SustainMe

Airport pickup, accommodation and food & drink are included in the fees.

Airport Pickup at Entebbe International Airport

We Pick you up from the Airport-Entebbe Airport to Jinja where the project site is located. It takes about 3 hours to drive from Entebbe Airport  to Jinja. The staff from our project always accompanies the driver to Pick you up.

We are flexible on the time of picking you up, so as you look into choosing the time of your flight, feel free. We always adjust and pick you up anytime.

Accommodation

We are interested in helping our volunteers learn more about Uganda and the culture here so the accommodation provided is of a host family. And our organization pays the family for the time the volunteer stays there. Unless if the volunteer wants to stay in a hotel, then we can have a special arrangement.

The beauty of the volunteer having the accommodation with a family is that you get to learn more about the culture in Uganda, get friends, learn about the local behaviors and history, and always in a company of someone. The host family selected always meets standards of our organization and are always ready to host you.

The accommodation consists of one bed room and a bathroom. However, for volunteers visiting as a family or couple, we have a special arrangement for you as you get accommodated as a family in Guest house or hotel. But if you prefer to stay with a family host then we make arrangement that way.

Food & Beverages

Since our Volunteers are hosted with the family, they share a meal and drinks with the host family. In the host family, more of the Ugandan dishes are prepared. If the volunteer wants to eat special meals then we also arrange for that. However, once placed in a home, then the food and Drinks are all arranged through the family.

The food includes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The meals include banana which is Uganda's staple food but here it is called Matooke, Beef, Beans, Posho, Greens, Potatoes, Chicken, Rice and Cassava. Breakfast consists of Milk, Bread, Egg, Fruit, Coffee, Rolex and Chapati. Most of these are local dishes, however special meals can always be arranged on request.

If you are a vegetarian, we value you taste. Special meals can be arranged to fit your preference and taste.

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Entebbe International Airport (EBB) in Entebbe. We assist you to find cheap flights to Uganda. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Uganda provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Uganda you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Uganda. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

Our Volunteer program is very flexible, we receive volunteers throughout the year and we encourage volunteers interested in working with us to write to us any time. 

The program runs through out the year due to the diverse needs of the women and families. So you application is welcome at any time

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

4 weeks (min. stay) 1,243€
5 weeks 1,392€
6 weeks 1,541€
7 weeks 1,591€
12 weeks 2,839€
50 weeks (max. stay) 9,941€
Average fees 254€/week

Program fees

254€ per week 4 - 50 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

4 - 50 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with SustainMe during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

SustainMe

Excellent 4.8 rating (13 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2010

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Samuel

About the project

SustainMe empowers vulnerable women and families to fight poverty.

Meet your organization

Who We are

SustainMe is a non profit organization working with vulnerable women and families in Uganda. We do impact women and families through economic empowerment, microfinance, health and nutrition, family strengthening.

Vision

We strive for a world where every woman is empowered

Mission:

Transforming lives of vulnerable women and their families through inclusive finance, skills and empowerment.

What we do

  1. Microfinance; Microfinance empowers empowers poor women in under-served communities to access collateral free small startup  loans and seed grants   Our microfinance model with the women is simple, friendly and sustainable. It consistently proves to increase household incomes, social capital and lead to sustainable livelihoods
  2. Economic Empowerment; SustainMe focuses on economic strengthening of the women and families through skills and creation of sustainable livelihoods/small businesses. Our economic empowerment program enhances business-and-vocational skills training and mentorship. 
  3. Health and Nutrition; We believe that good heath is essential for the survival and development of  women, children and their families. A health family is able to escape the cycle of poverty. Our focus is on providing quality medical care, maternal health, training and research.
  4. Family Strengthening; Poverty and human rights abuses, particularly those affecting women and children, are deeply interconnected. Research has shown that violations of women's and children's rights significantly contribute to the cycle of poverty. Through the Family Strengthening Program, we are committed to protecting women's rights, combating gender-based violence, and ensuring the safety and well-being of women and their children.  Our program also focuses on empowering families to achieve food security. Through vegetable gardening and the Share a Meal initiative, families are encouraged to grow their own vegetables, ensuring a stable source of nutritious food and a way to fight hunger.

Where we work

SustainMe reaches out to women and families in Uganda, located in the heart of Africa.

Uganda is a landlocked country, located in East-Africa. The land is mostly a plateau, with a rim of mountains and the tropical climate creating luxurious forests. Uganda is known to be the "Pearl of Africa" due to its Flora and Fauna, and numerous water sources. 

Uganda is a stable country with good security. It is a safe country to live with a number of tourist attractions. Uganda is blessed with numerous National parks, Rivers, Forests and a cool climate.

People in Uganda are welcoming and friendly. The country is blessed with over 30 tribes meaning that over 30 languages are spoken in Uganda, Our official language is English.

Uganda has a number of foods that are eaten which include Mistook (Banana), Posho, Beans, Cassava, Potatoes, Rice, Millet, Maize, Yams. However, the stable food is Matooke, Posho and Beans. 

History

Growing up in a community where women and children were more vulnerable and affected by poverty, Samuel Wanyagira was inspired to start SustainMe  to empower the vulnerable women and children to  break the cycle of poverty.

In 2010, SustainMe was founded. Samuel started providing business skills and giving out collateral free loans using his personal savings to the women with a goal of empowering them to provide food for their children, education and medical care and improve on their household incomes.

With $133, Samuel was able to provide the first small loans to a group of 5 women with each receiving an average loan of $22.6 which they used to start up small businesses. With an amazing impact on the women and their families, Samuel was impressed and believed that business skills combined with small loans can be used as a sustainable tool to empower vulnerable women, children and their families out of poverty.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for passionate volunteers who love to share their time and experience with the women and families.

We are looking for someone willing to cause a positive impact in the lives of women and families.

Why choose us?

SustainMe employees a holistic and sustainable approach towards empowering women and families out of poverty. We believe that to achieve global development, women and families must be involved at all grassroots level.

Choosing to work with us will give you an opportunity to contribute to the lives of the children who are the future generation while at the same time empower the vulnerable women who massively support to the survival and growth of the children. 

13 reviews · rating4.8

An organization that has touched the lives of many vulnerable women and their families in Uganda, helping them to provide for their families with food, medical care, education and other basic needs. I am forever grateful for the impact that SustainME is bringing in the communities. My involvement ...
I am excited to share with you about SustainME, a nonprofit organization that empowers vulnerable women and their families to fight poverty. I am hopeful and I volunteered with the organization helping women to improve their lives. The team at the project is amazing and they do a great job to make ...
Perove S rating5

2021 at Small Business Mentor for Women

Working with this organization was exciting and a long-time experience. SustainME offered me an amazing time to experience hands-on impact and change with the vulnerable women and their families. I loved the sustainable approach that the organization uses to empower the women in the community from ...
Fauzia K rating5

2021 at Small Business Mentor for Women

Hello everyone, I am Fauzia! I am very proud of SustainME nonprofit. This organization is amazing and is helping so much to transform the lives of vulnerable women and families in rural Uganda. It is providing women with small startup loans, business skills and developing small businesses for the ...
Bukwisi F rating5

2021 at Small Business Mentor for Women

SustainME is a great nonprofit that is changing the lives of many vulnerable women in the communities of Uganda. I am thrilled by its passion to make a difference and uplift women and their families out of poverty. If there is any charity, I would recommend for you to work with then it is this ...
Sanna W rating4.6

2021 at Small Business Mentor for Women

I volunteered with Sustain Micro Enterprise as a business mentor in autumn 2019. Samuel at the organisation was very helpful in every way, and all the preparations for my stay were super easy. At arrival they came to pick me up from Kampala and took me to my host family. At departure I chose to ...

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