Check out our new partnership with Solutions Now Africa – a mini-documentary about a democratic SACCO in Central Uganda
In April 2024, my team at Solutions Now Africa, in partnership with Proximate, traveled to Kasaasa, Kyotera District, Western Uganda, to film another solutions-focused documentary. As journalists, we’re trained to remain detached from our stories, but I must admit that this resilient community left a lasting impression on me. This agrarian community is transforming its fortunes by banking on a crop that is so abundant to them-maize. For years, like many farmers in Uganda, they struggled with middlemen who exploited them, keeping them in a vicious cycle of poverty. By coming together to form a savings cooperative, they’ve cut out the middlemen and are building a better future. They have formed a 30-member committee that makes investment decisions for the rest of the 300 members, after consultation. The most remarkable part (in my opinion)? They’re investing collectively in their local community school, Tatsat Community Secondary School. Even without cash, farmers can make direct maize deposits as school fees! This innovative approach is akin to the days when African communities could pay school fees with produce like sorghum, peas, or beans. 🌾 You can watch the full story here http://bit.ly/3XMuPfR Kristi Eaton