Last week, The Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to CURAD hosted 16 enterprising youth from the Busoga sub-region from 6th November to 8th November to begin their business journeys under the SAYE (Stimulating Agribusiness for Youth Employment) Project.
The three-day activity hosted at the CURAD’s NAMAVE facility marked a pivotal point for these participants, who previously attended idea refinement bootcamps in August and September, where they fine-tuned their business ideas within the horticulture, poultry, oilseed, dairy and beef value chains and their ideas have been brought to life to life with CURAD-SAYE support.
As an implementing partner under the SAYE Project, CURAD has supported these young people by providing end-to-end support in product development, packaging, branding, costing and market projections. CURAD-SAYE will continue supporting them in technical aspects and business development ensuring their products successfully enter the market. Through these tailored support services, SAYE aims to set these young business owners up for long-term success.
One of the participants, Namusoke Kevin, a 35-year-old from Jinja District’s Western Division, now leads a startup called SISTZ INVESTMENTS. Her product, EVON Instant Porridge, a nutritious blend of soy, rice, and milk began as a concept and has now transformed into a tangible product. She first learned about the SAYE Project from a friend and was introduced to its full scope during the idea refinement bootcamp in September.
Kevin expressed gratitude to SAYE for the support, adding, “The CURAD-SAYE team is friendly, dedicated, and always there to guide us. Their timely communication has kept us motivated.”
Another young entrepreneur, Nambi Jovia, a 33-year-old from Mpumudde Village in Jinja, is now the founder of ERUMUKA LTD, the maker of ERUM Pumpkin Composite Flour. Jovia first heard about the SAYE Project through a friend who attended the Jinja Agricultural Show in July, where she learned about its potential to elevate young entrepreneurs.
