Teach a Woman to Fish - by Keith Sharp
I have made five trips to Africa and have been in four African countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Uganda), but I have never personally witnessed poverty any worse than exists among the many women and children in Uganda who have been abandoned by husbands and fathers.
Francis Okech is a 45 year old preacher
in Uganda, and, to my knowledge, he is the only faithful preacher of
the gospel in that nation of 30 million souls. Francis has an economics
degree from Makarere University in Kampala, the leading university in
East Africa. He was head of international banking at Nile Bank in
Kampala before he resigned in 2005 to preach the gospel.
His sister, Rosemary
Aburu, is trained to be a school teacher. Her husband, Daniel, brought
the gospel to Uganda. Tragically, he has fallen away and left her, but
Rosemary remains faithful and diligent. She spends her time teaching
among some of the poorest women on earth, those who dwell in the Masese
slums near Jinja, next to Lake Victoria and near the source of the Nile
River.
I spent 17 days working with them in Uganda in February, 2007. I found them to be dedicated, faithful, honest, intelligent fellow laborers.
Many brethren have been frustrated with
the seemingly bottomless pit of benevolent needs in Africa. Francis, an
experienced banking manager, proposes to begin among brethren in Uganda
something that has proven quite successful in secular, third world
finance - micro-finance. As operated by Francis, Christian
Women Revolving Funds in Uganda will make small gifts ($100
for now) to destitute women who have proven their faithfulness to
Christ in order to underwrite their small business. Francis will manage
and audit the fund, while Rosemary works personally with the women to
teach them to run a business. Instead of giving them fish, Francis and
Rosemary are literally helping them start a fishing (or other) business.
This is something to which only individuals should contribute, since it is an organization other than the local church (having oversight, pooled resources, and a common work) and involves capital for business. No church funds will be accepted.
I commend to you Christian Women Revolving Funds in Uganda and ask you to help in this noble endeavor.
Beginning in February, 2009, I plan to make annual trips to Jinja, Uganda to teach classes for young men who want to preach. I can also personally inspect this micro-finance project and report to brethren here on its operation. Furthermore, Francis will furnish a thorough accounting of all monies received and distributed to those who contribute.
To receive the information and contact information for Francis Okech, contact me at or Francis Okech at .