Welcome To The Eye Magazine Directory
One of the things I like most about life in Uganda is the short-chain between products, producers, and consumers. While the rest of the world finds novelty in ideas like “farm-to-table,” and “meet-the-artist,” we tend to discover these at nearly every turn.
Similarly, the proximity between fundraisers and fund-recipients is often blessedly visible here. As we lead up to the festive season, I wanted to give a shout-out to just some of the organizations and companies which function from places of self-sustainability and giving-back! (I’d love to hear about others you may know. If you’ll send them to me at facebook.com/nathaniel.dunigan, I’ll post them as well.) Keep all of these in mind as you shop, travel, and give this season.
Income-generating projects have been around for a long time, but like all other sectors, this one has seen a major shift post-pandemic. There are many which export Ugandan crafts and products to raise funds, but there are also some which produce-locally and sell-locally, putting 100% of the profits right back into their budget of service. These are just a few:
Mbuyu Catering & Events emerged from The Mbuyu Foundation’s, Skills for Life Catering & Events Class. One-hundred-percent of profits go back into running the skills programs for men and women living in the Katanga slum in Kampala. They create impressive and delicious cakes (it’s hard to achieve both qualities in a cake—yet they do just that), catering, and very festive décor for all your events, from large weddings to intimate parties at home. “And whether you want some finger food platters dropped off, or a full buffet dinner-plan—from set-up to clean-up—we can make it happen,” says Director Leah Makanda. They also do in-home cooking classes for children.
Mbuyu Designs offers a fresh and unique catalogue of jewellery, overnight bags, travel-pillows, Christmas stockings and wreaths, sweaters, denim jackets and much more.
Hand-sewn and hand-quilted by women in the villages of Gulu, these creations are three-layers each, with batting (fiber) in the middle, and are made exclusively with African fabrics. All profits go directly to the woman who made the quilt; 15% is used to purchase fabric, batting and other sewing supplies for the next quilt. NUWOCSI participates in the Christmas markets in the Kampala area, and also delivers directly to you from Gulu, and they ship internationally. Available in all sizes, from wall hangings to king-sized-bed. Prices range from UGX 75,000 to 325,000.
The Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals rescues dogs and cats, provides community clinics and services, veterinary-care, and even a gift shop with beds, collars and toys for your fur baby. Please note that “as a surprise, a new pet is not usually a good gift idea,” offers a USPCA volunteer. “It’s best for the recipient to come and personally find their new friend right here at the shelter. Everyone is welcome.” Adoption fees are very affordable, and ensure that your new pet is spayed/neutered, fully-vaccinated, and ready for their new home. But there are many ways to include the USPCA this season!
Proudly the first business at the equator line on Masaka Road, AidChild brought water, electricity and jobs to the whole village—thanks to a grant from USAID—more than 20 years ago. AidChild remains one of Uganda’s only galleries of original art outside of Kampala, the gift shop features one-of-a-kind gift hampers and crafts, while the café offers favorites like jumbo muffins and tortilla soup, as well as a number of vegan and gluten-free options. The organization practices fair-trade, does not import from factories abroad, and is the equator’s only eco-friendly business. One hundred percent of AidChild’s profits have always gone to medication and to scholarships for students living with HIV. (Full disclosure, this writer founded AidChild.)
When considering the long list of impressive successes of Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda’s first wildlife veterinarian, it really should be no surprise that she has also founded and owns an award-winning premium- and specialty-coffee company. In addition to paying an above-market price to marginalized, smallholder coffee farmers living around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Dr. Gladys also donates some of her proceeds to support the gorilla-conservation and community-health programs of Conservation Through Public Health (www.ctph.org).
You can find this delicious coffee—in its eco-friendly, brown-paper packaging—at the outlets listed here: gorillaconservationcoffee.org
Nestled on the edge of an extinct volcanic crater lake at the foot of the Rwenzori Mountains near Fort Portal, what makes the stunning Kyaninga Lodge truly special is its heart. Since 2013, the owners have given all available resources to start—and maintain—Kyaninga Child Development Centre. The centre provides physical, occupational, speech and language therapy, orthopaedic services, special educational support, nutrition support and distribution of essential epilepsy medications to children with a wide range of physical, intellectual and communication disabilities in rural western Uganda. The lodge also recently helped build the Kyaninga Mobility Workshop, provided an inclusive school, and started a Street Business School arm of the centre—which gives carers the chance to become successful business women.
