We created SIP to instill a culture of saving amongst Enjuba´s artisans. Individuals who put a portion of their income aside for future investments are rare in Uganda. Understandably, someone earning two dollars a day who has to feed a family and pay for basic necessities has very little choice in the savings matter.

The Enjuba brand is opening a door for Ugandan artisans to sell their best products in a new market. We realize that Enjuba´s artisans are earning more than they did before, and we want them to benefit from this as much as possible. Without SIP, it would be inaccurate to claim that their increased earnings are offering them a ¨sustainable income¨ and more opportunities for growth. Unless a portion of their additional income is put aside and invested over time, there is a slim chance of there being any long-term impact. Our savings and investment program creates the mindset and provides the mechanism for Uganda´s artisans to get the most out of the success of the brand that they are creating. Our artisans are at the core of the Enjuba brand, and the strength of the brand will mirror the strides that the artisans make.

17%
Enjuba artisans put 17% of their net earnings into their personal savings accounts. They can withdraw money at any time provided they have explored the best possible uses for the money and that it is used for investment.

5%
Each time a product is sold, Enjuba deposits 5% of the product mark-up into the savings account of the artisan who made the product. (Enjuba buys a bag for $30 from the artisan, sells it for $120, the artisan makes an additional $4.50.) This feature of SIP accomplishes three goals: first, it connects the artisan with our customers and the sale of their products; second, it gives Enjuba the chance to add money to their savings accounts- they made money for the company by making a product that successfully sold in our market- and we know the 5% will have a positive impact down the road; third, they can measure their own performance.

We want to give our artisans the chance to invest in their businesses and in their families. Because they do not have access to credit in Uganda, we created AGE to fill this gap. At the end of each month, Enjuba deposits 5% of the mark-up on all products into the AGE account, (mirrors SIP, except that it applies to products from all artisans). The account is shared by the artisan team, and access to it does not hinge on the success of an individual artisan´s products. Each year two artisans are chosen by their fellow artisans to be team leaders, and when artisans seek to take out loans from AGE, they meet with the team leaders and Enjuba´s Ugandan project director to discuss their goals and decide how the money will be paid back.


We have developed a voluntary class for our artisans to give them the tools they may need as they make investments and explore a world of opportunity. The class includes setting them up with email accounts and teaching them how to use the internet. We also give them a foundation in budgeting and accounting so they are prepared to manage their accounts and investments. Most importantly, we are putting them in a position to teach their family and community members what they have learned, so that they, in turn, can go and do the same.

With the SIP and AGE program, and our class, we are aiming to put each artisan in a position to take control so that they can set themselves up with opportunities, whether it is sending their kids to good schools, keeping healthy families, or making other important investments.