Fort Portal, Uganda -

	Irene Katuutu Mobiiho in her boutique, Fort Portal, Uganda.

For the past four years, Horizon International has been working to provide microfinance loans to the caregivers of Horizon kids, and older sponsored kids who have graduated from our program. While operating under the title Covenant Savings and Credit Society, this organization is still a subsidiary of Horizon Uganda.
           
The program works by providing an individual who has filled out a satisfactory application with a loan of up to $100 to begin a small business. The individual then has 6 months in which to repay the loan at 2% interest.
           
The results of this project have been incredibly encouraging. During an interview, Tom Bagamba, recipient of a $100 loan, stated, “I couldn’t have started my business without the loan I received from the Covenant Savings and Credit Society.”

Another success story is that of Irene Katuutu Mobiiho. Irene is one of our orphan caregivers. She received one of the loans from Horizon’s initial investment of $1,300. With the funding, she purchased her first bale of used clothing in 2006, and set up a booth in Fort Portal’s public market. A year later, she was able to move to a small storefront in the commercial district of Fort Portal. Her business is called Irene’s Boutique (Dealer in Women’s, Men’s, and Children’s Wear). Her dream is to continue expanding until she is able to afford a larger store.

The Ugandan Microfinance Project is one which not only affects the lives of children under our care, but often the lives of entire families.