Meet Eseza: How Your Generosity Turned a $5.40 Firewood Investment into a Future for Eight Children

Hello, my name is Babirye Eseza, and I live in the Namatumba district of eastern Uganda.

My life has always been a challenge, raising eight children on my own. It became exponentially harder when my husband passed away. Suddenly a widow, I spent sleepless nights wondering how I could possibly provide for my family, especially since I lacked the formal skills and confidence to start a business of my own.

The turning point came when I heard about a community development program organized by Global Village Connect in our area. Curious, and desperate for a change, I decided to attend.

The training was truly eye opening. I learned how to start small, manage cash flow, and identify unmet opportunities within my own community. For the first time in my life, I felt genuinely equipped to take charge of our future.

Tapping into local demand

Following the training, I did some market research and realized that many women in my village struggled to find dry firewood, especially during the rainy season when wood becomes damp and difficult to light.

My business idea was born.

I took my small savings account of 50,000 Ugandan Shillings (about $5.40) and used it to purchase a tree from a neighbor. I worked hard to cut the tree into manageable pieces, thoroughly dried the wood, and bundled it into small portions to sell.

I started selling the firewood for 20 cents per bundle. On my very first day, I sold five bundles and made a profit of $1.30. I couldn’t believe it!

The women in my village quickly learned that they could rely on me to consistently provide dry, high quality, and affordable wood. The demand for my firewood grew rapidly.

Reinvesting and diversifying for success

GVC’s community development training taught me the absolute importance of using a portion of my profits to reinvest in growing and sustaining my business. I diligently reinvested my $1.30 daily profits directly back into the enterprise, allowing me to buy more trees in bulk and even gather fallen branches to increase my raw supplies.

Another vital lesson we learned in our training program was to diversify our offerings to cater to different customer budgets.

To put this into practice, I structured three distinct wood bundle sizes:

• A large bundle for 20 cents
• A medium bundle for 50 cents
• A small bundle for 10 cents

This simple flexibility helped me attract a variety of buyers and significantly expanded my customer base.

A role model in Namatumba

Today, my business is thriving. I generate a consistent daily profit that allows me to comfortably provide for all eight of my children. I can now afford school fees in full, purchase better quality food, and even save a little money for emergencies. My children are healthier and happier, and I feel immense pride in being a positive role model for them.

Beyond my family, my business has also made a difference in the community. Women in the village no longer struggle to find firewood during the rainy season. Some have even come to me for advice on starting their own small businesses, and I am always happy to share what I learned from Global Village Connect.

What seemed like a small step, buying one tree , has transformed my life and given my children a brighter future.

“I hope my story inspires other women to believe in themselves and take the first step, no matter how small it may seem. With determination and the right knowledge, anything is possible.”

— Babirye Eseza