Meet Sylvia: How Your Support Turned a Struggling Shop into a Thriving Multi-Service Business
With community development training and a renewed mindset, Kawala Sylvia transformed her drug shop in Namutumba and launched new ventures to double her family's income.
My name is Kawala Sylvia, and I live in the Namutumba District of eastern Uganda. I am a mother and a shop owner, and today, my trading center shop is bustling. But not long ago, my family’s future felt very uncertain.
Even though our trading center was busy and hundreds of people walked by my small drug shop every day, I was barely getting by. My monthly profit was stuck at UGX 300,000 (about $86). I watched other shopkeepers who ran similar businesses succeed and boast about making at least UGX 500,000 ($143) a month. It made me feel like I was doing something wrong, and I often went home feeling deeply discouraged and worried about how I would continue to support my family.
Everything began to change when GVC donors made it possible for me to attend a comprehensive community development training course.
Learning the rules of business
During the GVC training modules, my eyes were opened. I studied customer service, cash flow management, and business opportunity identification. I realized that running a shop wasn’t just about unlocking the doors every morning; it was about building relationships and understanding the math behind every sale.
When I returned to my shop, I immediately put these lessons into action. I reorganized my space, greeted every customer with a warm smile, and kept a careful, daily ledger of my money.
Gradually, customers who used to walk past my shop started coming in. The word spread that my customer service was excellent. Before long, my drug shop’s monthly profit rose to UGX 650,000 (about $186) , more than doubling my previous earnings.
“The training opened my eyes and helped me understand what I had been doing wrong and what I needed to improve.” — Kawala Sylvia
Spotting new opportunities
But the GVC training didn’t just teach me how to manage my current shop , it trained my mindset to think like a true small business owner.
I looked at the busy trading center with new eyes. I noticed that while many people walked by in the Ugandan heat, nobody was selling cold drinks. I decided to take a calculated risk: I bought a refrigerator and began stocking cold beverages.
At the same time, I noticed another gap: people wanted quick, nutritious food while on the go. I started buying trays of eggs every morning, boiling them, and selling them to travelers and locals.
Today, the soft drinks and boiled eggs alone bring in a daily profit of UGX 10,000 (about $3 a day, or $90 a month).
“The training encouraged me to think bigger and identify other opportunities around me. These additions have helped me attract more customers and increase my income further.” — Kawala Sylvia
A transformed future
Because GVC supporters invested in my community development training, my total monthly profit has grown from $86 to over $276 , a life changing difference for my family.
I am incredibly grateful to Global Village Connect and its donors for this opportunity. You didn’t just transform my business; you transformed my mindset. The lessons I learned continue to guide me every single day as my business grows.
