Wishwall Foundation backs crocheting training for 200 women in Uganda

The Wishwall Foundation is funding a six-month crocheting project in Wakiso District, Uganda, to train 200 women and young mothers in bag and shoe making. The effort is designed to build income, business skills, and economic independence for survivors of abuse, teenage mothers, and single mothers.

Why it matters: - The project targets 200 vulnerable women and young mothers in Wakiso District, including survivors of abuse, teenage mothers, and single mothers. - The training is designed to turn a low-cost, home-based skill into income and self-employment. - The program aims to boost household income, financial resilience, and women-led community enterprises.

What happened: - Kibwa Women Self-Help Group launched “Crocheting Dreams” with support from The Wishwall Foundation. - The six-month project began on 14 September 2026 and runs in Wakiso District, Uganda. - Training is taking place at the Kibwa Women Self-Help Group office premises.

The details: - Participants will learn crocheting techniques for bags, shoes, and sandals. - The project includes entrepreneurship training, business management, marketing, branding, customer service, financial literacy, savings, and record keeping. - Women will receive crocheting materials, tools, and equipment. - The program also includes mentorship, one-on-one coaching, and group mentoring sessions. - Practical sessions will cover pattern reading, design development, product finishing, quality control, and team production. - Participants are expected to take part in product exhibitions. - The project team includes a project coordinator, crochet trainers, an entrepreneurship and business development trainer, a financial literacy trainer, community mobilizers, a monitoring and evaluation officer, and administrative and finance support staff. - Kibwa Women Self-Help Group said the project is intended to help women become economically independent and agents of positive change in their communities.

Between the lines: - Crocheting was chosen because it requires relatively low startup costs and can be done from home. - The project is also meant to respond to unemployment, low household incomes, and limited access to vocational training in the target communities. - The emphasis on savings groups and business coaching suggests the effort is aimed at more than skills training alone. - The model is meant to build a durable income stream, not just a one-time training result. - “Our goal is to positively impact the lives of these 200 women by equipping them with practical skills, confidence, and opportunities to become economically independent and agents of positive change within their communities,” said Mwanje Harriet, project coordinator.

What's next: - Community mobilization, registration, and distribution of training materials are part of the implementation plan. - The project will run practical crochet training one to two times per week over six months. - By the end of the program, participants are expected to be able to start or expand crocheting businesses. - The project is expected to continue through women-led production and savings groups after the training period ends.

The bottom line: - The Wishwall Foundation’s funding gives Kibwa Women Self-Help Group a chance to pair vocational training with business support, aiming to turn craft skills into long-term income for vulnerable women in Wakiso District.