The blog entry below is part of a series written by current Clinton School students working abroad on their International Public Service Projects. This blog was written by current Clinton School student Dani Folks. The original blog entry can be read here.
By Dani Folks
From a professional standpoint, my time in Uganda has had some interesting challenges. My project plan was shaped from with the goal of continuing the work that was completed by Clinton School students last summer; however, the state of affairs at Hope North had changed significantly by the time we arrived this summer. If you have asked me about my project in the past, I said something like “I’m working to develop aloe vera sales and bakery function on campus to raise some money”.
Before I left, I was notified that the staff responsible for these programs were no longer with Hope North and that the roof had fallen off of the bakery…so I was prepared for some twists and turns. I still wasn’t ready to find the bakery (which is also the only kitchen used to cook for the 330+ students here) in this state.
The aloe vera crop is in a much more stable condition. These plants are hearty & large in number. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any interest in purchasing aloe vera in the immediate community and there is no man power available in existing staff to promote or process the plants into a product that might be purchased. The students are expected to maintain the aloe, which sometimes pulls them away from their studies. We are hoping to find a commercial partner who will purchase the aloe to use in their own enterprises. Needless to say, our focus is shifting…
We aren’t totally giving up on the bakery. It needs a ridiculous amount of work, but when functional it will be worth it. The financial situation here is more challenging than any non-profit I have ever worked for in the United States. Despite a celebrity endorsement and prolonged relationships with a variety of public servants, Hope North is in serious need of even basic financial security. Although the aloe and bakery probably won’t be functional any time in the immediate future, there are some other prospects. I am now helping to design a leasing and/or sharecropping program to profit off approximately 35 acres of undeveloped land owned by the school. Hopefully we will be able to begin collecting payment from tenants of this land before I leave in August. Additionally I am helping the interim director, Clinton School alum Joe Schafer, to develop a guest fee model that will encourage more visitors to campus while generating some revenue to cover operating costs.
Overall, my aim is to provide Hope North with an entrepreneurial framework that will allow them to assess money-making ideas internally for feasibility and sustainability. Things move slowly in Uganda, and everyone does what they have to to get by every day. Complicated, Western business schemes with many moving parts will not gain traction over time, they just get tabled and die. Instead, my work will focus on providing Hope North the tools they need to simplify their options and create the greatest amount of income while utilizing the lowest amount of human capital or investment capital. Things are finally kicking into gear here at a professional level, and I am eager to see what the next several weeks will bring. Wish me luck!
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