HerStory Podcast Series
HerStory Podcast Series
Episode 13: Viola’s Organic Fertilizer Business in Uganda
In this episode, Isabel Atugonza, Youth Challenge International's Knowledge and Learning Manager in Uganda, speaks with Nankinga Viola Kukiriza, founder of V&E Organics - a green enterprise that makes organic fertilizer from manure to provide a better, alternative product to artificial fertilizers. Viola discusses her passion for gardening and the environment and how YCI's HerStart program empowered her to become a social entrepreneur.
This episode was conducted in Luganda and the English voiceover is provided by Isabel Atugonza.
Welcome to Youth Challenge International's HerStart HerStory Podcast Series. Youth Challenge International, or Y C I, launched the HerStart Innovate the Future Program in 2020. As part of our initiative to advance women's equality globally. Our goal is to provide 10,000 women in Ghana, Tanzania, and Uganda with the resources and supports they need to successfully launch and grow their social businesses. We are sharing real stories of young women who are leading change in their communities. YCI's HerStart Innovate The Future Program is funded in part by the Government of Canada to progress Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy. Learn more a t yci. org or herstart. org.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):My name is Isabel Atugonza and I'm the Knowledge and Learning Manager with Youth Challenge International's HerStart program in Uganda. Today I am speaking to Nankinga Viola Kukiriza about V&E Organics. Viola is a participant in the HerStart Grow Social Venture Program. This program helps young women entrepreneurs grow their social and environmental impact through business skills, coaching, mentorship, and training. Viola is also recipient of the HerStart Catalyst Fund. The funding provides women-led ventures with critical seed funding that can help them thrive. Viola and I are speaking today on the partner premises SINA, located in Mpigi, Uganda. The interview was conducted in Luganda and translated into English. You hear the voice of myself, Isabel Atugonza reading the translation. Thank you so much for taking time to sit down and have this conversation with me. Who is Viola to someone who doesn't know her?
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):My name is Nankinga Viola Kukirizae. I am a 32 year old Ugandan from Mpigi District. I am a married woman and a mother of two handsome boys. I am a social entrepreneur and founder of V&E Organics. We make both powdered and liquid organic manure. We also train people on farming in small spaces to grow their own urban organic vegetables within their backyards. I love farming because I always look forward to watching plants blossom as a result of using organic manure.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):Why V&E Organics?
Viola:V&E organics.
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):Upon joining the HerStart program, we were told that we would receive skills and knowledge to grow or start a social enterprise. I wanted to learn hair dressing and chicken rearing. This is when I learned about social entrepreneurship and how it would help the community that I came from. I easily related with my experience growing up where people put in a lot of efforts to grow crops but always got poor yields. Those who could afford artificial fertilizers would make profits but didn't know its impact on the soil. I remember how we used to make the compost manure and I made research on how I could improve on my product and that is when I came up with V&E organics that is aimed at improving the soil quality and enabling people growing nutritious crops in their backyards.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):You have talked about the HerStart program. How did you get to hear about this project?
Viola:Uh, Project
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):I learned about the HerStart program when the HerStartstaff were doing door-to-door outreaches. Through referrals from my friends, they reached out to me and gave a brief description about the program, which sparked my interest to participate.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):What have you been able to learn in this program?
Viola:Program
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):I have learned a lot from this project. I have grown my confidence and I cannot believe in myself in leading people. I now believe I'm able to do a business and that it will succeed. I have also learned that we can have businesses that benefit both the community and the environment.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):Thank you so much Viola. You have been one of our participants who have gotten the Catalyst Fund and we are thankful to see you take on this journey. I would really want to know how the Catalyst Fund has created an impact in your life and in your business.
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):After gaining the knowledge and social entrepreneurship and getting this business idea, I was able to produce samples of some organic manure for prototyping. However, I didn't have the capacity to start production. Since people love the product, with a Catalyst Fund I have been able to increase my production and reach out to more customers within my community and people have been referring my products to other people, which has created market for me.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):Still talking about V&E Organics. I know it has been such a great journey for you and I would love to know how this journey has been.
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):It has been quite a challenging journey. I didn't have resources to meet the market demands. With the Catalyst Fund, I was able to start production and created a demo garden that I used to showcase my products. This has sparked people's interests who have small spaces and they intend to do farming within their homes. I have also started packaging my products and reaching out to more people.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):We know that culture has played a very big role in women businesses in Uganda and if you could kindly tell us what it has been for you to be a female entrepreneur in your community.
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):It feels good being an entrepreneur. I have become a good example to other women who wish to start businesses. The challenges are first have been managing operations as some activities are heavy to manage. I saw this as a blessing in disguise to employ more people who have been able earn living from the payments that we make.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):You're talking about people whom you've impacted. We would want to know what kind of impact your business is creating in the community you're coming from.
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):I have created business opportunities for people who collect raw materials for me. We have people who collect water and more wastes and plant wastes. We also have people whom I work with in making this manure. Without forgetting those who to do marketing our products to different people in the communities
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):It has been six months since you started V&E Organics. Do you feel that your business is successful?
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):Definitely. In these six months, I have been able to package and market my products. We have been able to reach out to over 40 customers. This means that 40 people are now conserving the soil quality and producing organic products
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):That sounds interesting and we are talking about the future.
Viola:Mm- hmm<affirmative>.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):What does your future look like for your business? Where do you see your business in three years to come?
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):In three years to come, I see my business having more customers as the customer base will be growing. My organic products will have impacted those lives and I see myself avoiding my product range as customers are already requesting for pesticides that are organic.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):You talked about your business creating change in the community that you're coming from. I have heard you talking about soil quality improving. I would want to know more about what your business is contributing towards the climate change of Uganda and the community where you're coming from.
Viola:Uh
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):Our organic manure uses organic products that are decomposed. Therefore, they do not have any negative impact on peoples' lives. People never pay attention to the side effects of artificial manure. While, growing up we would eat mangoes all time, but currently they need to be spread with artificial fertilizers for them to have good quality. I believe all this is a negative impact of that artifical fertilizers that people have been using. It has affected the soil quality and people aren't able to produce products unless they use fertilizers. With the use of V&E Organics, when people have embraced the product, I believe we shall be improving the soil quality and this will also impact on the climate. I look forward to having the soil quality improved in the communities that we are serving.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):You are a married woman and a mother of two young children and you're also embarking on this journey of social entrepreneurship. What could be some of the challenges you're facing as a woman in this business?
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):Between family and business has been a challenge. However, my goal to grow this business keeps pushing me to work harder.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):Do you get any kind of support from your spouse?
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):My husband believes in me. He supported me to participate in the HerStart project and has motivated me to take crucial steps in my business. Without his support, it would've been very hard for me to carry on. The fact that we have children who are still staying at home.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):What message do you have for young women in your community? We have seen a lot of young women who choose to depend on their spouses for source of income.
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):We can always start with the resources that are available without counting on our husbands. I grew up with only my dad because my mother left us due to financial constraints. This is something I do not wish to see any child going through. They can use resources around them to create a living. They can work on weaving and and recycling products within their communities.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):Would you really recommend our HerStart program to other women there?
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):Being able to grow in the HerStart has made it interestings, as women always reach out to me wondering how they can join the program. My confidence has increased and have been empowered to support my family and community. People seeing this always reach out and I always recommend them to participate in this program.
Interviewer (Isabel Atugonza):Thank you so much Viola. As we are concluding, I would want you to tell the international community what would you want them to know?
Viola (Voiceover by Isabel):This project has supported women whose dreams and businesses would not come to life with other support of this project. I would never have thought about my business without this project. We appreciate your support and thank you for believing in us. Thank you so much Viola. It was nice sitting and having this conversation with you and wish you the best o n y our j ourney ahead.
Viola:Okay.
Closing:Thanks for joining us today and learning about how Youth Challenge International has partnered with young women to advance gender equality globally and create a social entrepreneurship ecosystem with the positive impact for all. If you enjoy this HerStart Innovate the Future podcast episode. Please subscribe and share our episodes on social media. A special thanks to the fellows that volunteered their time in Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda, who help create these episodes. YCI's HerStart Innovate the Future and Fellowship programs are funded through the Government of Canada's volunteer cooperation program, providing skilled Canadians opportunities to volunteer with global partners and advance Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy. Join us and thousands of young people around the globe creating a better future together. Learn more at yci.org or herstart.org.
