Nonprofits That Serve Uganda | Conscious Real Estate

Conscious Real Estate is pleased to announce a partnership with Denver-based nonprofit, S.O.U.L. (Supporting Opportunities for Ugandans to Learn.)

S.O.U.L was founded by Brooke Stern and her father, Kenneth Stern, who set out on a backpacking trip through eastern Africa in 2009. After spending just 5 days in poverty-stricken Bujagali Falls, Brooke’s idea of creating a not-for-profit foundation devoted to helping the impoverished Ugandan community began to take shape. In reflecting on her first visit to Uganda, Brooke states, “In the village we saw hunger but we also saw thirst: thirst for knowledge, thirst for a better tomorrow, thirst for the opportunity to lift themselves out of gripping poverty.”

Brooke returned to Uganda one month after her initial life-changing visit. She immersed herself in the culture and community for 13 months. Like her village neighbors, she lived without electricity, hot water, or the comforts of modern society. She devoted this first year to listening to and learning from the villagers before she realized that the most effective soul-ution for the community would involve accessibility to education. Shortly after that, S.O.U.L. Foundation was born.

S.O.U.L. believes that education is the foundation upon which Uganda will build a stable and prosperous future. Families already struggling within the cycle of subsistence living must pay school fees for every child seeking an education. Often these fees are beyond their means, and as a result, children with motivation and academic potential never see the inside of a classroom.

S.O.U.L. Foundation focuses on creating partnerships with families through a shared approach to learning. To achieve this goal, S.O.U.L. created its Education Program. The foundation contributes 50% of tuition and book fees as well as a daily school lunch for each sponsored student. This provides scholastic opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach while keeping families invested in the academic success of their children.

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S.O.U.L. Foundation envisions a world free of extreme poverty and chronic hunger, where people have the economic means to sustain their families. Their Village Business Cooperatives are designed to increase villager’s incomes in a sustainable way, thus allowing the rural poor to meet their families’ basic needs while creating additional income that brings the dream of education and upward mobility within reach.

You may donate to S.O.U.L., get involved, or follow on Facebook or Twitter.

When you buy or sell a home with Conscious Real Estate, you may choose to donate 10% of your agent’s commission to S.O.U.L.

Conscious Real Estate is pleased to announce a partnership with the Women’s Global Empowerment Fund. The mission of Women’s Global Empowerment Fund (WGEF) is to reach underserved women of Northern Uganda through economic, social, and political programs. Implementing grassroots strategies, marginalized women are given the tools necessary to alleviate poverty thus facilitating sustainable development and empowerment.

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Women’s Global Empowerment Fund was founded upon the belief that microcredit loans, when bundled with educational programming, can build social capital and increase the potential for women’s empowerment and success. Clients invest their loans in activities in which they are already skilled – such as farming, food processing and selling, raising chickens and livestock, operating a shop, tailoring, construction, restaurants and tourism. Each borrower must earn enough to pay back their loan with interest, participate in the savings program, and have enough to purchase necessities. When the first loan is successfully repaid, the borrower is eligible to apply for a second loan to expand her business.

Women’s Global Empowerment Fund, in partnership with Literacy Aid Uganda, has developed a program that is relevant and responsive to the educational needs of their clients. When a woman learns to read and write, possibilities and opportunities are created. To date, WGEF has provided over literacy opportunities to over 600 women. In 2011, WGEF had 5 clients run in political races, with 3 successfully taking office.

WGEF clients have experienced empowerment, gained leadership skills, understanding of advocacy, legislative participation and policy development. Women in the program are leading in their communities, speaking out on important issues, advocating for women and families, challenging their leaders and community members to do better, moving their communities forward. Through relevant and meaningful programs, this nonprofit has been able to offer women critical knowledge to transform their communities, creating a brighter and more secure future for themselves , their families, region and nation.

If you would like to donate to WGEF, click here. If you would like to volunteer with WGEF, call: 303-520-7656 or email: [email protected]. You may also follow WGEF on Facebook or Twitter.

Remember, whenever you buy or sell your home with Conscious Real Estate, you can choose to have your real estate agent contribute 10% of their commission to WGEF!