Business Success Story: Eseza

Hello, my name is Babirye Eseza, and I live in Namatumba district.

My life was always a challenge with eight children, and became even harder when my husband passed away. I wondered how I could provide for my family when I lacked the skills and confidence to start a business.

I hope my story inspires other women to believe in themselves and take the first step, no matter how small. With determination and the right knowledge, anything is possible.
      —  Babirye Eseza

​One day, I heard about a business training program organized by Global Village Connect in our area. Curious and desperate for change, I decided to attend. ​​The training was eye-opening. I learned how to start small, manage money, and identify opportunities in my community. For the first time, I felt empowered to take charge of my life.

After the training, I realized that many women in my village struggled to find dry firewood, especially during the rainy season. My business idea was born. I used my small savings account (about $5.40) to purchase a tree from a neighbor. I cut the tree into manageable pieces, dried the wood, and bundled it into small portions to sell.

I started selling the firewood for 20 cents per bundle. On my first day, I sold five bundles and made a profit of 5,000 shillings (1.3$). I couldn’t believe it!

The women in my village learned they could rely on me to provide dry and affordable wood, the demand for my firewood grew quickly.

Business training taught me the importance of using some of my profits to reinvest in growing and sustaining my business. I was making daily profits of $1.30 and reinvesting them into my business. I bought more trees, and even started to collect fallen branches to increase my supplies.

Another lesson in our training program was to diversify our offerings, and so I started to sell two smaller bundles of wood as well, a medium bundle for 50 cents and a small bundle for 10 cents, thus catering to the needs of a variety of customers. This flexibility helped me attract more buyers.  

Today, my business is thriving. I make a consistent profit, which allows me to provide for my eight children. I can now afford school fees, better food, and even save a little money for emergencies. My children are healthier and happier, and I feel proud to be a role model for them.

Beyond my family, my business has also made a difference in the community. Women in the village no longer struggle to find firewood during the rainy season. Some have even come to me for advice on starting their own small businesses, and I am always happy to share what I learned from Global Village Connect.
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Attending the business training changed my life. I am deeply grateful to Global Village Connect for giving me the knowledge and confidence to start my journey. What seemed like a small step—buying one tree —has transformed my life and given my children a brighter future.

I hope my story inspires other women to believe in themselves and take the first step, no matter how small it may seem. With determination and the right knowledge, anything is possible.

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Just $300—or $25 a month for a year—covers the tuition for a six-month entrepreneurship program and enables another parent to feed and send her children to school, like it did for Eseza. 
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