A Profitable Enterprise Scrap By Scrap

Business poster for Peace By Piece.

Do you know that there are places where public education isn't provided free of charge? Where does a family get the money when that family is just scraping by, earning a small income from what is raised on the family farm? Then, after that, how do you afford the school uniforms, which must comply with strictly enforced standards, much less school supplies? If you don't have what is required, then the children in the family miss out, narrowing their future choices.

Something of an answer started out as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) project, the PEACE BY PIECE PROJECT. Nicole Travis and Mohamed Ali noticed that local tailors around Masindi, Uganda, had leftover Kitenge fabric, which they would burn, instead of finding another use for them. What would happen if these scrap fabrics could be used to make such things as pillow cases and quilts? Maybe, if villagers could make these items, they could earn enough income to provide uniforms for school-aged children. Of course, that would require that those interested use new sewing techniques, so the first step was to train those interested. Besides learning the mechanics of constructing the items, villagers were also trained in financial literacy and business development, so they could run this enterprise without the Peace Corps' involvement. According to Nicole and Mohamed, "[we] want to ensure we leave enough knowledge and resources to continue the great work they are doing by providing for their families, creating sustainability and serving the greater community."



In addition, in order to support these new enterprises, a place where supplies could be readily obtained, was needed. So, a tailor supply store was opened for this purpose. Before Nicole and Mohamed moved on, their project had earned enough funds to supply the children of two different schools with uniforms.

The Peace By Piece Project continues its work today, with even more challenges. Many of the parents are single parents, caring for their own children, as well as providing assistance for orphaned children in the community. The proceeds from the sale of quilts and pillow cases now provide the necessary shared funds to pay for housing, utilities, medical needs, school fees, and even business expansion. In addition, villagers now make headbands, aprons, oven mitts, laptop cases, pants, and skirts.

One of the workers at a sewing machine.

The products made by Peace By Piece Project have decorated the rooms at the New Court View Hotel, and can be found for sale at the gift shop in Paraa Lodge. The enterprise launched by the Peace Corps Volunteers has certainly become a valuable community enterprise for the people in Masindi.

One of the villagers modelling an apron and oven mitts.

Thanks to information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/nicole-travis-peace-piece/; and this article from Educating The Heart And Mind In Uganda: http://wp.kings.edu/uganda2015/author/jenniferjeanjacques/.

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