Local Entrepreneurship and the Market Day Fund: A Sustainable Approach
Welcome to this week's Far Away Friends Club blog post! This week, we're discussing the importance of local leadership and the Market Day Fund, a “microfinance” program that purchases items for our school directly from local vendors inUganda. This approach is in line with Far Away Friends' mission of supporting initiatives that are led by and benefit local communities.
One of the key reasons why this program is important is that it focuses on investing in local people and their businesses, rather than shipping or donating physical items like books, backpacks, clothes or shoes. Instead of providing aid in the form of (often used) physical donations, the Market Day Fund empowers local individuals through buying from their own small businesses. This approach is more sustainable in the long-term as it promotes economic development and job creation, rather than depending on physical donations. Investing in local leaders ensures that the community has a direct say in how the funds are used and how they can benefit the community.
We also want to remind you that you can support local entrepreneurs and small businesses by shopping for items directly from the Market Day Fund website. Club members can browse through the different products and services offered by local entrepreneurs and add them to their cart. As a club, members can also come together and "build a cart" of items they would like to fundraise for in the month of February. Not only does this promote the support of local businesses but also allows the club to work together to make a positive impact on the local community.
Avoiding the buy one-give one or clothes/shoe donation models is crucial as they can harm local economies and perpetuate stereotypes about the global south. Instead, invest in local leaders and their business ideas, as it promotes economic development and job creation, and empowers local communities to become self-sufficient.
In conclusion, this week's topic is crucial in understanding how to support development initiatives in a sustainable and effective way. We encourage the students to participate in the presentation and discussion to learn more about the topic and understand the importance of sustainable development.
To support the work of Far Away Friends, students can take these action steps:
Learn more about the Market Day Fund and the local people and students it supports
Use the knowledge gained to educate others about the importance of investing in local leaders and their business ideas.
Participate in the club's fundraising efforts to support the Market Day Fund and help local entrepreneurs in Uganda.
Research other sustainable development programs and organizations and share your findings with the club.
In short, by investing in local leaders and their existing businesses, we can promote economic development and job creation, and empower local communities. Avoiding the buy one-give one or clothes/shoe donation models and supporting local businesses is crucial in addressing poverty and inequality in a sustainable way.
Remember to stay engaged and informed about global issues and take action as a global citizen. Thank you for reading!
