In the small town of Kamuli in eastern Uganda, women like Salima are building successful businesses from scratch, thanks to a unique programme run by ethical jewellery brand Zena. Salima, who once washed laundry by hand, now runs a laundromat supplying the biggest hotel in town, employing five other women and supporting her son and another family.
The Zena Launch Pad programme, founded in 2017 by Caragh Bennet and Loren Thomas, aims to tackle extreme poverty and gender inequality in the Kamuli district. Unlike traditional aid, it provides employment for one year, during which women earn a salary and save 60 per cent of their income to start their own businesses. The goal is sustainable change, not dependency.
Women like Cathy and Sara have used their earnings to start chicken and clothes-selling businesses, respectively. Cathy rears chickens for meat and eggs, while Sara built a stone house and supports extended family. Both were living below the extreme poverty line before joining Zena.
The programme employs about 25 women at a time, creating recycled jewellery from Ankole cattle horn. Alongside work, they attend daily classes in digital literacy, financial management and leadership. Record-keeping is highlighted as crucial for avoiding tax overpayment and managing cash flow.
Caragh Bennet, originally from the UK, explains: 'The focus of our impact is on what happens once the women graduate; once they leave us they don’t need us.' The model fosters self-sufficiency, with women becoming financially independent and contributing to their communities.
