Young Entrepreneurs

FCI plans to fund eight small, income-generating projects which are proposed by small youth cooperatives in the rural Ryansoro region of the central province of Gitega, Burundi. The cooperatives will be submitting proposals to a panel of Unitiarians, local officials, and business professionals; they will be vetted in a competitive process. The program goals are to help the youth earn an income and encourage them to remain in their villages; there are no opportunities for them in the city and the cost of living is higher there.

Amount needed to fund each project: $1000

(Funded)

Bujumbura Computer Lab

Many graduates in Burundi, even those graduating from a university, have never touched a computer. Computer skills are generally essential to securing a well-paying job. FCI plans to establish a computer lab in Bujumbura (the capital of Burundi) where graduates can develop computer skills and become more competitive in the job market. 

The Unitarian Church of Bujumbura is offering to donate space for the lab. Funds are needed to purchase computers, accessories, and tables, adapt the space, and provide a stipend for the instructor.

Amount needed for computer lab start-up: $9,820

(Funded)

Community Ambulance

The 1500 people who live and work in the community of Ryansoro in Gitega have requested funds to help them purchase an ambulance that will transport people who need emergency care to the hospital, 40 kilometers away.  They require an all-terrain vehicle in order to navigate rough terrain and enable women experiencing complications to receive specialized maternity care; the current option is for them to be carried to the hospital by fellow villagers since only one person in the area owns a car.  Community contributions will help with the cost of operating and maintaining the vehicle.

Amount needed to purchase an ambulance: $35,000

(Funded)

Transportation Start-Up

A small group of refugees in Rwanda has developed a business plan for a establishing a transportation service.  They hope to transport people and goods from remote areas to the city with a used van.  The income generated will help the refugees with their basic needs and contribute to the creation of a fund that will help refugees start other small businesses.

Cost of a used van and related business expenses: $14,000

 (Waiting to be funded)