Microenterprise has emerged as one of the most powerful ways to empower those living in poverty. Just Like My Child works closely with microenterprise partners and leaders on the ground who have established trust and credibility within the community. Together with Bishop Asili Hospital in rural Uganda, we are guiding resources and creating empowerment in the most needy communities through Project GRACE.

Project GRACE is a microenterprise program that provides a small loan (poultry or livestock) together with intensive training to healthy, self-motivated individuals with HIV to create a self-sustaining business that will support their families and send their children to school.

Just Like My Child and Bishop Asili Hospital have selected the first ten families to participate in Project GRACE. Located between two small villages near the Hospital, these families are supported by HIV/AIDS patients receiving treatment at Bishop Asili.

Participants receive animals and intensive training for creating, or expanding, a small business. They are responsible for gathering material and building shelter for their animals, which are raised for food, trade and sale within their village community. They learn how to use their garden and livestock together in sustainable and environmentally healthy ways- Gardens help feed the animals, and animals provide natural fertilizer for the garden. At the end of the program, participants repay their loan by bringing a pair of their animal's offspring back to Bishop Asili, enabling Project GRACE to continue a cycle of empowering future participants with tools to achieve self-sustenance.

Project GRACE participants support each other and work together to succeed- They are role models for other members in their community. They encourage others to be tested for HIV at Bishop Asili, raising awareness and hope for others to overcome the virus. And working together, they move closer to eradicating a stigma widely held in Uganda towards individuals with HIV/AIDS.

$300 provides an entire family of 6 with a complete sustainable business. Invest TODAY in Just Like My Child and help us empower communities to achieve self-sustenance and break the cycle of poverty.