Uganda: Achieving dignity through Discipleship & Development: Centre for Evangelism (CFE)

Centre for Evangelism (CFE) has been in the area of entrepreneurship training and community development for the last 5 years. The following projects were implemented between 2012-2018.

2012-2015: Increased livelihoods and wealth creation through entrepreneurship training in the Busoga Region project.
2016 -2018: Increased livelihoods and wealth creation through entrepreneurship training in the Busoga Region, extension project intervention

Ever since CFE started interventions on entrepreneurship; trainings, business skills and mentorship. Communities have realized sustainable and economic empowerment becoming vigorous where previously there was lethargy and empathy.

CFE main mission is to empower families through spiritual nurturing and participatory sustainable approaches for communities to achieve sustainable development and dignity. The driving force of CFE is to see communities flourish and prosper. A lot of work is done in strengthening entrepreneurship capacities and skills among the beneficiaries through;

1) Getting families and communities on board
With its developmental work of wealth creation and accumulation, CFE has mobilized beneficiaries, and local leaders, to be in involved in anti poverty campaigns. The campaign, focusing on men and women who would act as changing agents in their respective communities but especially starting from their own families.

2) Developing business, technical and life skills for use beyond the project

Centre for Evangelism has turned many people into powerful business men and women. This is because there were many educated people who previously had no jobs. But after being empowered through skills training, business mentorship and record keeping, are able to earn a living. Development programs that feature skills training that can be used beyond the end of the project are more attractive to youth and women.

3) Use of CFE trainers to help set clearly defined goals for the participants.

CFE on different occasions has used its trainers to help the beneficiaries to examine their business plans and ideas. They connect them to larger networks, act as mentors and demonstrate models of success. Monitoring and mentoring beneficiaries goes a long way to ensure training is continous and engaging. Trainers and beneficiaries/entrepreneurs must have strong relationships based on clearly defined goals and obligations

CFE trainers have got a complete training curriculum having different levels of skills and capabilities i.e. Business skills for the beginners, business growth for those that have started their own business and tailored training for individual cases

4) Formation of groups among the participants.

This was initiated after finding out that some beneficiaries can do better in groups because there is power in team work. A number of self-help groups have been formed. These groups are teaching participants on HOW, WHEN, WHY and WHAT to save.

KYOSIGA, a savings and loans group in Kiringa centre. Members are getting loans to pay fees for their children at school and some are getting loans to expand their businesses hence improving livelihoods of members. The act of group formation has to be strengthened by entrepreneurship capacities and skills for the members to plough funds back in

5) Onsite visits or onsite support

Onsite visit of projects activities is one way CFE monitors and evaluates its programs. In this case the team from CFE visits beneficiaries where they work and upon those visits then trainers get to know the challenges t faced beneficiaries. There, we give recommended advise and encourage them. This has helped us realize our goals including benefiting the beneficiaries

6) Exchange visits for the participants.

CFE organizes exchange visits for some of the beneficiaries with the aim of allowing them learn and see how to do bigger and better things. Beneficiaries of a given centre visit beneficiaries of a different centre but dealing in the same field. This has strengthened entrepreneurship skills and capacities among the beneficiaries

Apprenticeship / on job trainings

This is an approach where skills and knowledge of doing something is imparted into someone on job.

CFE has placed participants into hands of skilled persons to teach/train them in specific area of competence i.e. motorcycle mechanic, hair dressing etc. This is done by responsible skilled personnel in the field of choice to the beneficiaries. Within a short period of time learners gain skills and finally start their own workshops or businesses.

8)Review meetings with the trainees.

CFE also carries out review meetings regularly with selected participants and with this we get to know the problems the participants are encountering as groups may need immediate intervention. The beneficiaries also have time to interact with our staff and we have seen that it has greatly yielded desired results for both the organization and beneficiaries.

9) Discipleship for development programs.

Discipleship for development programs centres has also helped CFE to strengthen the entrepreneurship skills among the participants. Based on the biblical principles, trainees are motivated and encouraged to do business. The trainees are also supervised to have the points of a health family. With the above work CFE has done to strengthen entrepreneurship skills and capacities among communities and it has helped to achieve targeted and the desired future.

Those entrepreneurship programs have had a great import in the communities where we work, economically, spiritually, socially and materially.

Project impact on the society

Culture of saving in the communities has been registered because the participants trained on WHY, HOW, WHEN, WHAT to save.
The spirit of hard working among the beneficiaries has been seen growing steadily. The effect of this is that there is reduced number of people who despise work in the community
Some business ventures have been started which have benefited the communities
Good relationship in the between CFE and members of the society
Increased number of children attending school due to improved standards of living.
Improved livelihoods of the participants among the communities where we work. They are now feeding well, dressing well and sleeping well as compared to the time before they were enrolled on the program.
Unemployment levels have been reduced through the creation of businesses.

Project Impact on the church/ spiritual impact of the project.

New converts coming to Christ and fellowshipping in our churches
Improved church collections
Good working relations between the church and other religious faith.
With the project interventions CFE’s existence and presence in the communities has been felt.

“When I learnt, I didn’t need to have big money to start my business, I started my cosmetics business immediately!”

“With my income, I pay my children’s school fees, health issues and my personal needs.”

The Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (SLP)

Job Openings

Global Impact of the War in Ukraine

Uganda: Achieving dignity through Discipleship & Development: Centre for Evangelism (CFE)